Opportunities for decision making - Dribble or Pass?

The Set Up: Magic Rectangle - The overall pitch size is 40x30 with the central third being 16 yards long.

Ball Work - This takes place in the central rectangle, players are asked to go and stand along the line of yellow and red cones or the orange and blue cones - there choice. Players are then asked to dribble the ball across to the opposite line of cones performing various feints or change of direction moves that the coach has chosen from this blog post, 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.



One Big Two Small Goals: This game can be played in small numbers in a small area or larger numbers in a larger area, so long as their is an overload for the team attacking the big goal. The objective for the attackers is to score past the keeper in the big goal, for the defenders the objective is get the ball through one of the two small goals which have been placed at the other end of the playing area.

Make it easier by increasing the number of attackers.

Make it harder by making the playing area smaller.

Vertical Lane Game: Place small cones at the end of each of the vertical zones. Players in must stay in their allocated zones. The objective for each team is to score in any of the three small cones they are attacking. This game creates loads of opportunities for 1v1's and the chance for even the least developed players to score for their team.

Make it easier by making the goals larger.

Make it harder by asking players to dribble the goal to score.

Normal Game: Focus on the skills learnt in the session, giving particular praise to players taking players on or passing to create scoring opportunities

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