Taking on and Beating Opponents

The set up: Magic Rectangle - I set up each rectangle as 10 yards wide by 15 yards long. Overall pitch size of 30x45, but make it appropriate to your players age and ability.

Warm Up: Ball Mastery - You will notice then when setting up the pitch I have set up a goal at either end of the pitch to set the direction in the players mind. The ball mastery is completed in the middle third. Players are asked to go and stand along either the red line of cones or the blue line of cones - their choice. Players are then asked to dribble the ball across to the opposite line of cones performing the feint or change of direction at least once. Players work back and forwards between the lines of cones and change to the next skill on the coaches request. Allow them at least 4 or 5 attempts at each skill.before changing.

6 - Ronaldo Chop
7 - The V (The Puskas)
8 - Sole Drag
9 - Rivelino
10 - High Wave
11 - Low Wave
12 - Pele
13 - Cruyff Turn 

Also you will see that I have reduced the number of skills the players complete, I have found that eight is enough to keep their attention, when we started to go above ten some of the players started to get bored.

Work in small groups: 1v1 To goal or the corner - In this set up a small goal has been placed along the goal line of each grid. Split players into pairs. Players stand opposite each other, the defender in between the small goal in each of the four corner areas, use the central areas if you have more then four pairs. The defender passes the ball to the attacker, who is then trying to beat the defender and dribble through the small goal, or take the ball to one of the cones on the goal line. They get two points for going through the goal and one point for dribbling to the cones. The attacker is trying to dribble the ball across the defender and between the cones. If the defender gets the ball they just have to dribble the ball to the attackers start line. Get the players to rotate roles after three turns of being the attacker.

If you have a group of three, get them to play 2v1, don't have one standing out, or taking turns. Have 2 players play as defenders or attackers.

Work in small areas: 2v2 To goal or the corner- This is just a simple progression of the previous activity. The pitch is deliberately small to produce more 1v1 opportunities.

Group Work: 4v4 To goal or the corner–The players are then split into two teams, 4v4 or 6v5, whatever suits your group. The four central cones and the small goals used for the previous drill are removed.

The game is played the same as before but with the use of the whole pitch and the support of extra players and no goalkeepers. Players score two points for dribbling the ball through the goal and one point for dribbling the ball to the corner. You can award extra points for players beating players 1v1, or where they have actively got their head up and looked for the best space to attack.

Follow this with a normal game. Focus on the skills learnt in the session, giving particular praise to players taking the players on 1v1.

Our diagrams are produced using a beta session template software (with new functionality) from Academy Soccer Coach. Click here to visit their website and access free soccer downloads