Soccer: Breakaway

Scatter some cones (divots) across the area, some the right way up, and some upside down. Split the group into two teams - 'Hackers and Greenkeepers' - and spread them out across the area. On the word 'Go' the Hackers run round turning the divots upside down and the Greenkeepers must turn them the right way up.

The foxes (players) put bibs into the back of their shorts. The farmer (coach) runs around the area attempting to pull the bibs out. When a players bib is pulled out, he becomes a farmer too. Play until 1 fox is left. The players must remain within the confines of the area throughout the activity. Any player running outside the area, automatically becomes a farmer.

Set up a 10 x 10 area fish tank (any shape you see fit - diamond, square, circle, etc) and set up small goals on the outside. Have 4 players on the outside of the fish tank with a ball each. 1 player in the middle without a ball. The players (fishes) on the outside try to go across the tank without the player in the middle (shark) taking their ball. If the player in the middle takes the ball he/she tries to play it outside the area into one of the goals.

Play small sided game in a suitable area (e.g half field 6v6). Two teams attempt to score in any of the goals. A goal counts if the ball is passed through the goals and one of your teammates receives the pass round the otherside of the goal. The game is continued so it does not stop after every goal.

Two teams of seven players play on half a pitch with no keepers. Each team must have a wide player on each wing. A spare player should be put into a separate colour (see yellow player taking the center in the image). They are always playing for the team in possession of the ball to give them the extra man.

Objective: Application of passing, receiving & combining through conditioned/free play SSGs. Detail: 30 x 30 (2 pitches inside). Pitch 1. 3v3 normal 2 goal game Pitch 2. 3v3 conditioned line ball (combinations required before scoring) Rotate teams so they play on both pitches.

The object of the game is to score in the opposing team's goal through interplay of players on the same team. The game should be 3 v 3 with no goalkeepers.

5 vs 5 game (can be played with or without goals). Game 1: Possession keeping game where all passing is with the hands by throwing and catching. Teams score a point for every 10 passes they make without losing the ball. Game 2: Alternatively you can play this game with goals. All passes must be made with the hands (players can't run with the ball in hand) and players can only score with a header.

Play a normal rules game across an area slightly narrower than half the pitch. On both sides of the pitch set out three cones at regular intervals. Teams play out the game as normal, however after any missed/saved shot players on the attacking team must immediately run back and touch the next line behind them (marked by cones) - if players are stood on or close to a line they must retreat to the next closest line. This will open space for the defending team to quickly launch a counter-attack. Once players have run back and touched a line they can then rejoin the game.

One team runs clockwise round the inside of the circle with the other team running anti-clockwise around the outside of the circle (blue cones). When the coach shouts 'Jailbreak' the players inside the inner circle try to 'escape' to outside the 10m x 10m square (yellow cones). The inside team scores a point for each 'jailbreaker' - swap over. If you have an odd number of players give the defenders the extra man.

2 teams. Each team has their own area in which they keep possession by passing the ball around. The other team can send one player across to try and win the ball for their side. If they manage to win possession the roles reverse and the other team passes the ball inside their own area. The winning team is the first team to put 10 passes together without losing the ball.

Split your players into two equal teams and have them wait on the sideline opposite the coach who is standing with the ball in hand. Give players on each team a number from 1-5 (higher number if you have more players). The coach then calls out a set of numbers. The players with these corresponding numbers must react to the call and run onto the pitch. The coach kicks the ball into play and the two teams compete to score.

Position players as shown in the diagram, with one ball between each team. Player 1 passes the ball overhead to player 2, who passes the ball through their legs to player 3, who passes the ball overhead to player 4. When the ball gets to the back of the line, the last player runs to the front and repeats the exercise.

Play across half a pitch. Each team must have 3 defenders and two centre forwards. Players must follow their own passes forward, with the intention of overlapping to receive the return pass.

The pitch set up has a defending zone and an attacking zone, divided by a midfield channel. 2 defenders in the defending zone, 1 midfielder in the middle zone and 2 attackers in the attacking zone.  Again, the non passing defender enters the midfield zone to create an overload. Either player located in the midfield zone can then enter the attacking zone to create another overload. 

The pitch set up has a defending zone and an attacking zone, divided by a midfield channel.  The defending zone and attacking zone have 2 defenders and 2 attackers in each zone. The midfield channel has 2 neutral (no.10) players inside.  The defenders receive the ball from the goalkeeper and play through to one of the neutral midfield players (with the attacking players trying to stop this). The neutral players then play into the attacking players and join the attacking zone to create a 3v2 overload.  Try to score in the opposition goal.  Progression 1: Neutral players are split iinto one player for each team (i.e. one becomes blue, one red). These players are unnoposed to begin with in the central channel (but this makes only one midfield player to play into from the defensive zone). Progression 2: Central zone players become opposed (i.e. the opposition midfield player can intercetpt etc). The ball can be set back from the midfield players into the defensive players to play through into the attacking zone.  Progression 3: The midfield players can drop into the defensive zone to make a 3v2 overload. 

The pitch is split into 3 thirds with 2 defenders in the defending third, 2 midfielders in the middle third and 1 attacker in the attacking third.  The ball starts with one of the goalkeepers who plays the ball into one of the defenders. The defenders play a 2v1 against the oppositions attacking player (3v1 if you include the goalkeeper) with the objective of trying to get the ball into one of the midfield players. Once this occurs, the defender who has not passed the ball into the midfield area can go and join the middle third to create a 3v2 situation. The midfield players then try to play the ball into the attacker placed inside the attacking third. ONe of the non-passing midfielders can then enter the attacking third to create a 2v2.  Then the attackers try to score against the opposition. Once the ball goes dead, into the goal or is regained by the opposition, the same scenario occurs with the other team in possession and the defending team must retreat to their defensive zones. 

This is an initial pulse raiser to get players focus; physically prepared for the session. Mark out a 20 x 20 grid with cones every 10m. On each line of the grid put a piece of equipment (poles, ladders, hurdles, cones). Put 2 players into bibs (pac men) and everyone else starts spread out next to cone. You can only move alone the lines from cone - cone. If a player comes to a piece of equipment they need to go through it efficiently. If you are caught then you're out or can join the pac men chasing. Introduce balls after a couple of games, where players can take turns to enter skill zone with ball, perform skill; pass to partner (swap).

Team stay in own half, except for 2 players from each team who are put in the other section. Each team shoots at earliest opportunity. Start the game with one ball and build it up to a number of balls. The two players in the opposite half score from rebounds or interceptions.

The 2 players in the square must protect the square and stop the ball carriers to entering the square and turning out of the square. One point is scored by each player carrying out the objective.