Football: Finding space - Team exercise

Set up as shown. Player 1 starts with the ball in the middle of the field and plays a 1-2 pass with player 2 before passing out wide to player 3. At this point, players 1 and 2 run towards the penalty area, ready to receive a cross, while one of the defenders goes out wide to put pressure on the crosser. Player 3 will cross the ball into the box where players 1 and 2 will try to beat the defender to it and score.

Players on the wing run with the ball down the side of the pitch before crossing for an attacker who has ran into the area, usually at the far post. Attackers begin further back than the wingers and in line with the corner of the penalty area. Once the coach blows his whistle, the attacker must sprint at full speed to reach the area and get on the end of the cross.

Two players begin the drill on the wings with the ball, while to players wait in the centre. The two players on the wing will run in opposite directions (attacking opposite goals). The central players begin their run once the crosser has taken their first touch. After the cross has been delivered players swap roles.

Set up 2 goals 10-15m apart.  Divide in to 2 groups and line up either side of the goals. 3 from one side and 2 from the other enter. The 3 must beat the defender and score

Organize groups of 6. Station goalkeepers in a goal at each end line. Place 2 players inside the area and 2 wide players outside the area. Goalkeepers should have a supply of balls. Repeat in another area for a total of 12 players. White goalkeeper distributes the ball to player white 1, who advances the ball up the touchline with his first touch and crosses the ball to player white 2 with his second touch. Keepers must stay on their line throughout the practice. Repeat in the opposite direction from red goalkeeper to red player 1 and red player 2. The wide player should attempt to vary his crosses to near, middle and far post positions.

Again, the signal made between player and corner taker before the ball is played into the box. A player should be on the front post, with three attackers making runs into the area between the back post and the six-yard line. They should attack the goal by heading, or look for an alternative player.

2 players outside the area play a ball into one of their players in the grid.  The 2 players in the grid play 2 v 4 to try and score a goal on the half way line by dribbling the balll through the gate. The 4 players try to win the ball and when they do they have to break as quick as they can and try to score a goal. the only 2 defenders that can stop them are the 2 defenders out side the grid. (Blue dot players)

The drill starts with player 3 moving to the red cone and then coming back to receive pass from player 1. Once player 3 has received the ball player 2 runs forward in support and receives the ball from player 3. Player 2 controls and then plays a long switch ball to the wide player 4 who is on the move down the line. The wing player then runs down the line and swings in a cross for the 3 other players to run onto and attack!

Once the signal has been given between a player and the corner taker, the ball is then crossed into the box. Three players should be making runs into the box from the edge of the area, and attacking the ball, with a player also on the front post to attack or flick the ball on.

The set up in the diagram shows how to set up for a left sided drill,  but can be copied onto the right side. This drill requires quality passes to play rom the center out to the sides and create a cross oppurtunity, which will set up a shot. The ball starts at the center with player 1. It is passed on to player 2 who lays it of for 1 to pass long to 3. Player 3 turns and plays the ball to player 4. It is dribbled towards the box and crossed to either 1 or 2 who shot.

Set up: 3 Attacking players from each team on each side of one half, taking it in turns. If you have 2 GKs then have a GK for each team Attacking players A1, A2 and A3 positioned as shown in diagram. Description:  A1 passes to A3, and runs towards the penalty area. A2 runs behind A3 to the upper right corner of the field to be passed the ball. A3 then also runs into the penalty area. Out of the 2 strikers running in, the first person who gets to the box is the one who takes the front post. This will usually be A1 as they started running in first. Therefore A3 takes the back post. A2 crosses in and A1/A3 finishes. The opposition have the same set up the other side and they go while the other team is setting up again. Swap the GK for the opposition Having 2 teams makes the drill competitve The teams switch sides after 10 crosses. After 10 crosses each on each side the team who gets the most goals wins and you can make the other team do a forfeit. (For example a high intensity run)  

Position 5 Attacking players as shown on the diagram and a GK in the goal. Pass 1 --> 2 --> 3 --> 4 --> 5; with 5 running round from behind 4 to collect the pass. Have a mannequin set up either side of player 4. After a player has made a pass they will move into the starting position of the person they have passed to. Form a line of players ready to make it a continuous drill. This should be repeated on each side.

The player stood on the half-way line passes to the player up field and then runs in to create an overlapping run. The player on the ball can choose to: Take on their defender. Pass to the supporting striker. Pass to the overlapping player. The attackers should play out the drill and try to score.

Player 1 starts the drill of by passing the ball to the wide player. The wide player then crosses the ball into the box on their first touch for both the attacking players to run onto and attack (near and far post runs). Immediately after the two strikers have headed for goal the opposite wide player then delivers in another cross into the box. After the second cross players swap roles (crossers join the queue and the attackers become the two next crossers).

Set out 5 x 15 yard channels in each corner of the area as shown in the diagram. Station one player in each channel. Play 2 v 2 in central area. The goalkeeper serves the ball to one of his two teammates in the central area. The goal is to get the ball to either of your teams players stationed in a channel. This player delivers a crossed ball into the attacking area. The two attacking players stagger their runs into the near post, mid-goal and far post areas. Finish with a shot or header on goal. Progression: When the wide player gets the ball in the channel the opposing wide player on his side of the field may run into his area to challenge the cross.

Player 2 curves their run away from the passer before then cutting back to the ball. Player 2 receives the ball and turns towards goal in 1 fluid motion. Player 2 then delivers a cross for the waiting centre forward.

4 attacking players keep switching the ball (each transfer has to go via both link players). Only one defender is only allowed to go out and defend when the attackers have received the ball. If the attacking team switch the ball the defender has to pass the ball to the other defender who has to stop the ball before then being allowed to defend against the wing player. The aim is for one of the wingers to dribble the ball through the grid on the side line and then cross the ball to the opposite winger coming in.

Players line up in 3 queues, with the ball starting with player 1. Player 1 makes a 1-2 pass with player 2 before passing the ball down the line for player 3 to run onto. Player 3 times their run to meet the pass and gets the ball under control before swinging a cross into the box for the players 1 and 2 to run onto and head into the goal.

Set up: Cone off an area 2 areas: Width 44 yards length 20 yards one above the other. At each side of one area have an extra square of 5 yards. Set up a 2 goals, one at the top of the areas and one at the bottom. Red team players: GK, 2 Defenders in the bottom area, 2 Attackers in the top area and 2 wingers, one in each 5 yard square.  Blue team players: GK, 2 Defenders in top area, 2 Attackers in bottom area. Description:  Red team start with the ball. Passes: GK -> Defender (or straight to winger) -> winger Winger crosses to one of the Attacking players who can either pass the ball to the other Attacker or take a shot. If Blue team win the ball then they can go for goal although they don't have the same wide options.  

Player 1 playes the ball to player 2 to draw the defender player 2 passes the ball back to player 1 when the defender comes close to player 1 player 1 passes the ball wide to player 3 who runs down the wing and crosses the ball into the box either to the near or far post depending on where the defender moves to.