Skill Training Component
• A grid of approximately 15m x 15m with a halfway line and three gates of 5m at each byline
• Two groups (yellow and orange) of 4 players positioned opposite one another in the middle gate (see diagram A)
• Yellow group with a ball each; orange without a ball
• #1 yellow passes to #1 orange and immediately sprints to the halfway line (yellow must start defending on or over the halfway line, waiting in own half is not
allowed)
• Orange #1 receives the ball and takes on yellow #1 at speed, trying to get past them and score by dribbling through the left or right gate
• The action stops when orange scores or yellow wins the ball
• Orange #1 now takes the ball and joins the yellow line while yellow #1 joins the orange line
• After everyone’s had a turn, the oranges now become the defenders and yellow the attackers
• “Count the number of goals: who scored most?”
ATTACKER
“Go at the defender with speed”
“Use a feint to put the defender off
balance”
“Threaten to pass to the overlapping
player but accelerate past the defender instead”
DEFENDER
“Show the attacker one way”
“Bend your knees and stand on your
toes so you’re able to change direction quickly”
“The best moment to commit is when the attacker takes a heavy touch or slows down”
in more ways than one
in more ways than one
Under FutureFit, your Under-9s stay at 5v5, your Under-11s stay at 7v7 and your Under-13s stay at 9v9. Same pitch, same numbers, one more year. Here is how to make sure that year feels like a step forward rather than a repeat.
Most 1v1s are lost in the first second, when the defender rushes in and dives. Teach your players to slow the attacker down, take away the dangerous option and pick the right moment, and they will win far more of them.
The FA's FutureFit framework lands this season, bringing a 3v3 entry format at Under-7s. Here is what actually changes on a Saturday morning, and how to coach it well.