Soccer: Attacking Soft Targets

This fun passing and moving game can be explained in two words - Football Rugby. In order to score a point players must stop the ball in the opposition's try area. To begin with, to encourage passing and moving, this should be done by passing the ball to another player who controls and stops the ball inside the area.

Teams stay in their own half and shoot at the earliest opportunity. Start the game with one ball and build it up to a number of balls.

Set up six goals on a full-size pitch (use cones/poles for goals), a small goal at each corner of the pitch and a further two goals on each side of the half-way line. Players score 1 point for their team every time they pass or dribble through the goal on the half-way line and two points for every goal scored in the goals on the corners.

Make two teams of 6. The coach is the pitcher. He stands in a 5 x 5 yard area 10 yards from the wickets (5 cones in a row). Position one cone 10 yards from the wicket. The pitcher passes the ball from the mound in the direction of the wickets (line of discs). The batter must kick the ball and then run around the base, back to the wickets. He must be ready to face the next pitch which is delivered as soon as the pitcher receives the ball, passed back from the outfield. The batter continues to bat until he is bowled out (the pitcher knocks down the wicket) or caught by an outfielder. Continue until all batters on the team are out.

Set out end zones 5 yards wide from each end line. Play 6 v 6. 1 ball per group. One team starts in possession of the ball. The object of the game is to advance the ball to the attacking end zone. A goal is scored when a player dribbles the ball into the end zone and stops the ball with the sole of his foot. No defenders are allowed in this area.

All players have a bib tucked into the back of their waistband (must be visible). On the whistle, players attempt to catch as many bibs as possible - whilst keeping their own one in the back of their waistband.

Set up two teams, with 5 on field (3-2 formation) playing against the 4 on field defenders (3-1 formation). The attacking team start with the ball and then the game is live! Attackers can score in the normal-sized goal and the defenders can score in either of the two smaller goals (use cones) at the opposite end.

Play 6 v 6. Station goals angled into the area in the corners of the grid. 1 ball per practice. The object of the game is to try to pass the ball between your team and score in any of the four goals. Players should be encouraged to spread out and find space throughout the practice.

Play a game of 3 v 3. Each team elects a goalkeeper that is allowed to use their hands in the defensive area as well as go forward as an outfield player. Rotate keepers every 2 minutes. Select scores for various skills demonstrated.

Two teams try and score by running the ball into their opponent's scoring zone and stopping the ball dead. Rules are: 1. You can only pass backwards. 2. The defensive players are not allowed to go beyond the line of the ball. 3.  Players can run with the ball and tackle. 4. If this game is spoilt by too many tackles, then change the rules to rugby league (the attacking team can have their attack broken down 6 times before having to give possession to the other side).

Station four players in each grid, with one ball per practice. The white team start with possession of the ball. Player 1 on the white team passes the ball into the opposing area. The white team can then send two players into the opposing area to defend. A goal is scored when the blue team makes 5 consecutive passes without an interception. Repeat in the opposite direction.

Set up a 5x5 metre grid with three players and two balls. The defending player starts in the middle of the grid, facing the two attackers. When everyone is ready the two attackers both set off and try to run out any side of the grid without being tackled by the defender.

Set up a 5x5 metre grid with three players and two balls. The defending player starts in the middle of the grid, facing the two attackers. When everyone is ready the two attackers both set off and try to run out the opposite side of the grid without being tackled by the defender.

Red 1 passes the ball to one of the teams to start the game. There should be 3 players in both wings and 8 players in the centre of the pitch. The wing players cannot be tackled and the central players are not allowed into the wing areas. In order to score a goal the team in possession must make 5 consecutive passes before passing out to their wide man. The wide players must both touch the ball before it is crossed in for the team in possession to attack it, with the other team defending the cross. After an attack on goal has been made the ball returns to red 1 who feeds the ball out to the other team.

Setup: Full half field, central channel which the first attacking team starts in. Waves of attack vs defence.   Explanation:   The ball starts with the coach who plays to the greens and are trying to score. If they score in the direction they are attacking, they turn and return to the middle and attack the other team If they miss the target or the attack breaks down they must swap with the defending team and that defending team now becomes the attacking team Counting scores i.e goals scored. Working with 4 players being desperate to disrupt the attack and get the chance to be the attackers. If defending team win the ball they must find the middle area with a player in there to get the chance to attack

Objective: Get players physically prepared for the session through a fun activity linked to the sessions goals. Detail: Set up a 30 x 40 area with 4 goals (on the 40 side). Split the players into 4 groups of 4 with a goal and ball each. Explain the game of wembley singles and/or doubles (1v1 or 2v2). If playing singles use a spare player as a goal keeper. However if playing doubles tell the players that Team A starts with the ball by the goal & plays out to Team B who can then attack. Rotate around accordingly. Stop after every couple of mins for dynamic stretches (open/close the gate, lunges, hip rotations, backwards lunges & punters).

Place 5 cones across the middle of the area, 10 yards in from each sideline. Play 4 vs 4. The ball is not allowed to travel through or over the discs. The object of the game is to get the ball wide in the near side of the field and attack the flanks of the attacking area. Although the ball is not allowed to travel over the discs, players may make runs over the discs.

Played across a half pitch. The red team have a player outside the dotted lines - to promote the use of width. The blue team must play inside the middle channel, and score between either of their two smaller goals.

The players each have a ball. On the coaches command the defending team comes in to the area and tries to kick all of the balls out. If a player gets his ball kicked out then they can stay in and help their team mates by finding space to receive a pass. If a player does a turn when pressurised by a defender then add 5 seconds onto the time.