Soccer: Attacking Soft Targets

Set up 2 goals 10-15m apart.  Divide in to 2 groups and line up either side of the goals. 2 from one side and 1 from the other enter. The 2 must beat the defender and score

6 players work in an area approximately 30 meters wide, divided in two with a third boxed area at one end. Red team play a 3 v 1 inside the first area but need to look for early deep ball to blue (3) in smaller coned area. The Blue team has also got a player (2) in the centre zone this player can not enter the area where the reds are keeping possession.

The aim of the drill is to work on helping your team keep possession all over the field. The game starts with normal rules, no limitations on touches, with both teams simply trying to score. The game changes when the coach shouts the following: 1. Possession - Players must keep possession in their own half, which of course means they are not allowed to score. If a team wins the ball, they must take the ball to their own half and try and keep it. 2. Normal - Teams return to a normal game and are allowed to score. 3. Barca - Similar to possession, but this time players must attempt to keep the ball in the other teams half, but they are not allowed to score. If the other team wins the ball they must get the ball into their opponent's half and keep it there.

Play 2 v 2 in each area. One ball per practice. The object of the game is to pass the ball to a player on the same team in the opposing area. A goal is scored when a.) the receiver plays a one touch pass back to a teammate in the originating area or b.) the receiver turns with the ball and plays it to a teammate in his area. Score 2 goals when the team advances the ball to the opposing endline and stops the ball on the line.

Station 6 players in 2 teams of 3 in 1/3 of the area and 3 players in 1 team in the other 1/3. The ball starts in the area at the top of the diagram. The 3 players in possession must attempt to advance the ball into the middle area. The team advancing the ball into this area then carries the ball into the opposing 1/3. Now they must attempt to advance the ball to the end line at the bottom of the diagram beyond the 3 players in the bottom 1/3. Defensive players must attempt to prevent the team in possession from getting the ball to either the middle area or the end line. Play continues from end to end with the winner being the first team to get to 5 points/goals. Develop so that 3 defenders become 2 defenders plus a goalkeeper. Now you have 3 attackers trying to beat 2 defenders and score past the goalkeeper.

Each teams has 3 players and one goal to defend and one to attack. The ball is not allowed to stop or go over head height. By passing and dribbling the ball players must try to score three goals - first to three wins!

A 4 v 2 drill depending on which team has possession. A square box is set up using cones. 2 blue and 2 white players are outside this box. The two players defending must prevent the opposing team retaining the ball. Once possession is relinquished the players outside the box are unused awaiting their team gaining possession again.

Objective: To change the direction of attack by turning in a small sided game. Detail: Half pitch practice with 4 goals (as shown in diagram). Split the group into 2 teams of 8 with no GK's. Play 8 v 8 with each team attacking and defending 2 goals. Emphasis on changing the direction of attack my turning towards another goal.

Setup: 50 x 40 with wide zone for full backs / wingers Explanation:   Ball starts with either the coach or either GK. Once the ball is in play, the defending team are tasked with getting immediate pressure on the ball from front to back. 1st and 2nd defenders show press aggressively and force the opposition to play backwards or side wards or long. Look for clear communication from players in positions behind to help support the closest players to the ball. Aim is to win the ball back and counter attack quickly or regain controlled possession.

Create 5 x 5 yard squares in corners of the grid. Play 4 v 4. The red team has possession of the ball. The object of the game is to play the ball into one of the two attacking boxes for a player to run into and control the ball with the sole of the foot. The play is conditioned to encourage one touch passing and switching play. The red team is attacking to the right side of the diagram.

6 players and 2 catchers. Both catchers have a ball each. Catchers move around the area and attempt to throw their ball to hit one of the players on or below the knee. To do this, catchers must either bounce the ball or head, thigh or volley the ball every 3 paces. The other 6 players try to escape having the ball thrown at them below the knee by running around the area. If a player is caught, he joins the catchers. As only two balls are allowed in the game at one time, they can be passed between catchers. Catchers cannot move with the ball

Set out three grids within the area according to the dimensions shown in the above diagram. Play 3 v 3 in the 30 x 40 yard grid. The team in possession plays the ball around the central area. The goal of the game is to penetrate into the attacking area and finish a 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper must stay on the line until the attacker crosses the attacking line. Progression: Allow a single defender to pursue the attacker to pressure or block the shot.

All players must try to dribble past the defender to the safety of the other side on the coach's call. If the defending player manages to kick the other players ball out of the area, then that player also becomes a defender. Continue until one attacker remains.

Position 3 players who link arms or hold hands on the goal line. Play 3 v 3 until coach shouts, "Change!" then the chain breaks and the team previously out on the field becomes the chain in goal. The original chain players now become field players. 3 players from each team form a human chain by linking arms or holding hands. These players are stationed on the goal line in front of a goal approximately 8 yards wide. The team in possession must attempt to score past the human chain defending the opposing goal. Goals and saves are each worth 1 point(players in the chain are not allowed to use their hands to defend the goal and must control the ball within 5 yards to score).

Set up your team in a small sided game on a pitch running from the edge of the penalty area to the half-way line. Play normal rules except for the fact that during the drill, players are not allowed to talk during the game. Players cannot call for the ball, tell a player where to go or where they want the ball passed to. This really emphasises the importance of communication. If a player does speak, then a free-kick is given to the opposite team.

Get your players to stand an equal distance around the cones in the middle. There should be one less cone than there are players - so in this instance there are 10 cones and 11 players. On the coach's call players sprint into the middle and try to collect a cone. Once players have collected a cone they should run back to their starting position.

5 vs 5 game where the object is to steal as many cones from the opposition as possible. Every goal your team scores is worth one of your opponent's cones.

Place 5 discs with soccer balls on them on each end line. Play 6 v 6 in the area. When the ball rolls out of bounds, it should be rolled in underhand by a player. The object is to score by knocking one of the balls off a disc on your teams attacking end line.

Position 4 players from each team randomly within the area. Place a goalkeeper in each of the goals. The white team can score can score in the goals to the left and right of the diagram, while the blue team can score in goals at either the top or the bottom of the diagram. You can choose to make the goals 5 yards wide and play with no goalkeepers in a 6 v 6 within the area.

1) Only wide players allowed in channel. 2) A goal must come from a cross or direct result of a crossed ball. 3) Compete 5 v 5 in middle and limit to 2 touches. Wide players have unlimited touches. 4) Condition game and coach what you see.