Towards goal: As a team and alone

Organisation

• Organise mini-pitches, with two teams of three players per pitch
• The players in each team should number themselves 1-3
• When the coach calls a number, the relevant players from each team play against each other
• Call different numbers in random order and then increase to two numbers at a time
• Rotate the teams between pitches after a few minutes so they get to play against different players

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Defenders can only delay opponents, not tackle

Ways to make the exercise harder

• The players have to dribble past their opponent before they can score

Great questions to ask the players

• How can you be positive when you’re attacking against your opponent?
• What strategies can you use to attack?
• How can defenders choose the right time to make a tackle or try to win the ball?

Safety tips

• Create safe zones between each mini-pitch

Organisation

• Organise some obstacles (e.g. hurdles/cones) on one side of the pitch
• Keep groups to a maximum of six and make multiple pitches
• The players take turns to complete the physical challenge and then receive a pass
• They cross for a striker to then shoot at goal
• The wide player should follow up a shot in case of rebounds

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Make the agility run simpler
• Allow the striker to control the ball before shooting

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Make the agility run more difficult/complex
• The striker has to shoot first-time
• The passer (the player who started with the ball) can defend the cross

Great questions to ask the players

• Can you show me different ways to jump?
• How can you tell the passer that you are ready to receive the ball?
• Can you try to cross so that the ball is in front of the attacker?

Safety tips

• Create safe zones between each pitch

Organisation

• Make pitches for 3v3, with two extra players (floaters) on the touchlines
• The team in possession can also pass to the floaters, making it a 5v3
• Encourage the players to use the floaters and to find positions to receive the ball from them
• The floaters cannot be tackled
• Remember to rotate the players, so they all get to play as floaters

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Passes from the floaters cannot be intercepted, so defenders can only win the ball while in the central area

Ways to make the exercise harder

• The teams have to use a floater, or both floaters, before they can score

Great questions to ask the players

• Can you get your head up while on the ball and recognise the opportunities to use the floaters?
• Can you try to find great positions on the pitch to receive the ball back from the floaters?
• Whom do you need to concentrate on when defending?

Safety tips

• Create safe zones between each pitch