Football: Shadowing the attacker

The drills starts with one player from group 1 (reds) running with a ball to the opposing goal, trying to score. As soon as they have a shot at goal, a player from group 2 (yellows) runs with a ball to the other goal to try and score. The player that had the first shot has to try and defend against the player from group 2. When this player scores or loses the ball to the defender, the next player starts from group 1 and the player that had the shot becomes the new defender. The player that had the first shot and then defended, goes to the back of there queue. (Players should always finish up in the same queue and attack the same goal).

Players 1 and 3 (target players) feed the ball into the player who is facing them. This player must then try and get the ball to the target player at the other end. If the other player wins the ball, he can play to any target player.

Position 2 teams of 6 players in opposite corners of the same end line and number players on each team from 1 to 6. Place a gate (2 cones, 3 yards apart) at the opposite end of the area to the goal. Position the coach as a goalkeeper in the goal. The coach calls out a number from 1 to 6. The respective players from each team run with the ball following the directional arrow as shown in the diagram, to the gate at the end of the grid. The first ball to cross through the gate is the ball that is used (the other one can be discarded). The players then compete in a 1 vs 1 to get a shot on goal.

The Object of this drill is to retain the ball whilst moving it from end to end. The Setup requires 6 grids and 3 groups of 4 player arranged as the diagram shows. In each central grid there is an attacker marked by a defender. The end grids contain neutral players as a passing option. The attackers start with the ball and work together to create passing channels  to manover the ball towards the opposite end. When the defenders win the ball they immediatly become the attackers. The neutral players are always a passing option to the current attackers

Set up 6 3x3m gris in the centre with 2 goals at either side. Split the group into groups of 6 and place a attacker and a defender in each grid The attackers must retain the ball through passing until there is an oppurtunity to play a through ball. One attacker runs on to this and attempts to score. Through out each player must stay in their grid and only one attacker can run onto the through ball

Players start on cones on the opposite side of the grid. Player 1 starts with the ball and passes it to player 2. As soon as player 2 touches the ball, player 1 can try to win the ball. Player 2 must try and dribble to any of the 3 spare cones in the grid. Player 2 scores one point for beating their opponent to either of the cones on the side and two points if he dribbles the ball around player 1 to the cone at the top of the area. Repeat the practice with player 1 in possession.

The red player attacks the blue player in the area between the blue cones. The blue player cannot tackle but can only put red player under pressure.

The feeder starts with the ball. They play the ball with a push pass forward. As the ball is played players 1 and 2 sprint to the ball. The first player to touch the ball becomes the attacker while the other player becomes the defender.

Split the team into two groups on either side of the pitch, other than on goalkeeper and one defender. The front player from the left side will pass the ball to the front player from the group opposite, with the receiver running around the cone before receiving the ball. This player will now attempt to take on the defender and beat score. The drill then starts again from the other side.

Play 1 v 1 for a set period of time, with players trying to take on their opponent and score between the cones. At the end of the game, the winning player moves up (left) a pitch to take on someone else, while the loser moves down (right) a pitch. The player on the top pitch stays at the top if he wins, and the player at the bottom pitch stays there if he loses.

Organise the players into groups of 3, with 1 goalkeeper and 2 outfield players. Player 1 and player 2 stand or sit facing away from goal. The goalkeeper then throws the ball out and player 1 and player 2 play the ball back to the goal, passing between them before shooting.

2 players in one channel attack 1 defender whilst another attacker and defender wait in the other channel. The 2 attackers in the first channel play a 2 vs 1, trying to score a goal. However the 2nd defender can choose to come across and help defend making it a 2 vs 2 . Having drawn both defenders across into one channel the 2 attackers may choose to use the other channel and exploit the open space or continue to attack without using the unmarked player.

Divide the group into teams of 4. One player in goal, two defenders and one attacker. The defenders (Alligators) adopt a crab position (belly up, hands and feet on the floor) and start in the middle of the grid. The attackers must try to dribble around the alligators and score a goal.

Set up as shown with 2 players and 1 ball between the two. The area should be a 4x4 diamond, however the shape and size can be modified depending on the level of your players and the main aspect of ball shielding you want to achieve. Play begins with the external player making a firm pass into the middle player. The external player closes down his pass and aims to win the ball back. The player in the middle aims to keep the ball, shielding it away from the defender for 10 seconds and then acclerates out of the diamond.

Position players in 2 lines on each side of the area as shown in the diagram. Number each player from 1-6. This game is a throw back to the Disney classic, Bedknobs and Broomsticks. The coach calls out a number between 1 and 6. The numbered player from each team must run around the outside of the field and through the goal at the top or bottom of the diagram onto the field of play. The coach serves a ball into the middle of the area. Players must compete to win the ball and attempt to dribble or shoot the ball through the goal at the opposite end of the area from which they entered.

Plant the standing leg to the side of the ball, bring the kicking leg back and then forward, as if kicking the ball. Using the inside of the "kicking foot", drag the ball backwards and accelerate into the space behind.

Work in pairs. Defender passes the ball to the player practicing the skill. The skill in this practice is that the player taps the ball with the instep of one foot onto the instep of the other foot for the ball to be taken wide of the defender the attacker runs past the defender and continues to run to the opposite cone.

Drag the ball away with the sole before pushing the ball back with the instep.

Player A passes to player B and closes Player B down. Player B attacks Player A. Use the lateral drag with sole and push back to deceive the defender and beat them on the outside. Player B passes to Player A to restart practice.

Working in pairs, the drills starts with the defender passing the ball to the player practicing the skill. The skill in this practice is that the player drags the ball with the instep of the right foot across the body. The player then steps over the ball with the left foot pretending to kick the ball in the opposite direction (moving the defender out of the way). The ball continues to roll and the attacker runs past the defender and continues to run to the opposite cone.