Here is a competitive technical passing drill to add to your coaching toolbox. It comes complete with progressions and variations.

This post is provided by World Class Coaching

By Gregg Gillies

Coach Gillies is a nationally licensed coach through the USSF and is a Youth Athlete Development Specialist and Head Coach at Mount Laurel United Soccer Club, where he currently coaches a u14 girls team, the MLU Raptors. He also is the owner of www.NoLimitsSoccerTraining.com, where his focus is on maximizing a player’s individual technical skills, soccer IQ, and overall athletic development.

Warm Up

Set Up: Space can vary depending on number of players and how difficult you want it to be. Set up a variety of cone “goals” randomly throughout a space and pair up your players in teams of two, each team has one ball. Use at least 5 cone “goals.”

The players, in pairs with one ball, are to complete as many passes as they possibly can through the cone goals scattered thoughout the playing area, in a set amount of time (30 to 90 seconds). The team with the highest number of completed passes wins.

Players can not complete multiple passes through the same goal without going to at least two other goals first.

You can vary the number of goals and size of the playing area to make the drills more or less difficult. The smaller the area, the more traffic that each team needs to be aware of and avoid, making the game more challenging.

Make the receiving player of a pass that scores a goal call out the number of that goal, loud and proud. This helps with getting players to talk, especially at younger ages.

Coaching Points:
The accuracy and pace of the pass, as well as good communication between players on a team are extremely important in being successful at this drill.

Players need to keep their heads up and be aware of their surroundings so they don’t run into other players or have a pass fail because it hit another player or another teams ball.

The quality of all touches is important so traffic can be avoided, causing time to be lost if a ball is knocked away via a collision with another player or another ball.

Progressions and Variations

Set Up: See below in diagram two. Divide up into multiple teams of four to six players. The cones that need to be passed through and the distance between the cones will depend on the skill level of your players. 10 to 12 yard passes are long enough distance wise as we are looking for quick, quality passes on the ground with at most two touches, one if possible.

Passes must go between the two cones in front of the player you are passing to. That player can then play a one touch pass or take a first touch. The return pass must also go through the far two cones. When a pass is made, that player goes to the back of the next line.

The teams are competing to complete the most number of passes in a set time like 30 or 45 seconds. Any pass that does not go through the far two cones, does not count. This is true if the pass goes wide, but also true of the receiving player steps up and takes their first touch ahead of the cones without letting the ball travel through.

 

Coaching Points
Focus on accuracy and weight of the pass. A good, solid pass that allows a teammate to return it with one touch will give a team the ability to complete more passes in the time allowed. The more touches a teammate must take to control the pass, the fewer total passes that will be completed.

Whichever team completes the most number of passes wins.

The competition and cones takes a simple, boring passing drill and dramatically increases the intensity and focus of the players.

Progression/Variation #2
Same Set up but add a 1-2 into the senquence as shown below in diagrams 4 and 5.

In this version, count all passes completed that go through the cones.

These drills and variations are a great way to work on technique without defense but also add an ellement of pressure and intensity (as well as focus) that you don’t get with typical drills. Adding that element of competition can help players more quickly develop their technique and skill.

One last thought on the competition element. You can create two (or three or more depending on total number of players) to make it one overall competition by adding the total number of passes completed through each variaton.

For example, let’s say you have 12 players and in the team passing drill, you have 3 reams, which is 4 players per team. For the first drill, when they are working in pairs, separate them into 3 teams of 4 players and then into pairs within each team.

The total number of completed passes is the total of the passes completed by the pairs within each team. Then keep the same teams throughout all variations, with the winner being total number of passes completed throughout the session.

World Class Coaching provides a variety of free resources for coaches.  Just click the images below for copies of the free eBooks.

 

This post is provided by World Class Coaching

Here is a drill that will help you to train your players to penetrate either midfield flat defenses or flat back four defenses.

By Steven Smith

Steve Smith has been a men’s college coach that holds an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and a Doctorate in Physical Education.

Area Size: A grid that is 20 X 20 is set up with three dummies (or poles) in the middle as shown. Three groups of three are divided into color groups.

Teams: At least two teams but prefer three or more.

Time: 20 minutes for full progression to completion.

Objective: The objective is to penetrate either midfield flat defenses or flat back four defenses (with modifications).

Narrative: Players execute predetermined runs between or in front of dummies to receive from the passing players. Emphasis and feedback is placed on tactical decision making to penetrate the midfield or back line. Gradually adding pressure will increase the demands of speed of decision making while making great technical touch. Holding runs and staying on side is a key part of the decisions when emphasizing penetrating the back line.

Set up and Execution:
In the first activity, the emphasis is on penetrating the midfield by adjusting runs for the receiver to receive in between the defending dummies. Feedback is given by the passer to receiver to either turn, turn and go, or hold. Then the ball is delivered to the flank and the pattern continues to the next person in line.

In the second variation, the receiver posts in front of one of the dummies to receive and double pass back to the initial passer. Then the player must hold and spin off to receive again in between the dummy defenders. Timing is crucial when using this activity to beat a flat four defensive group and stay on side.

In the third variation, the activity becomes a SSG by playing 3 v 3 in the given space with the dummies still on the field. Points are gained by either passing or dribbling between the dummies while competing to keep the ball.

A final progression (not diagrammed) could be to add full sized goals to the ends of the field and complete the activity by scoring in a 3 v 3 setting. Teams can rotate when they get scored upon or after two minutes of play.

World Class Coaching offers a Free eBook filled with soccer drills. Click the link 50 Soccer Coaching Drills

The hardest thing to do in soccer is finishing. Here is a basic drill to work on the fundamental skills of attacking from the wing and crossing in for a one touch score.

In the video below Matt Clepper,Indy Warriors FC Head Coach (5x CICC Champions; 4x State Champions; WCSSF U19 League Champions)
Demonstrates a wing attack cross in drill. Coach Clepper also shares key coaching points that will make this tactic more effective as a tool for scoring more goals.

Coach Clipper’s teams have averaged more that four goals per match and that has helped power his teams to multiple championships. This drill is just one of many that he shares in his his instruction DVD designed to help your team score more goals. For more information about the DVD that this clip was taken from click the link Winning Soccer Matches: Score More Goals Using Any System!

The YouTube video below has audio, so please make sure that your volume is turned up. Click the arrow to play the video. Note that some schools block access to Youtube.

This post was provided by World Class Coaching

Here is a simple passing drill that can be used to teach or practice a multitude of skills and tactics. The variations of this drill are only limited by your imagination.

In the video below Tom Mura of World Class Coaching animates his Hourglass Passing Pattern. This activity may be conducted on playing surfaces of varying sizes. The drill works best, however, if the shape of the grid is rectangular. He begins with a simple pattern of passing to the middle and following your pass.

As the video progresses Coach Mura demonstrates how he adds complexity to the drill and even suggests other variations that you may utilize depending on the skill of your team or your objectives of the training sessions.

The YouTube video has audio so please make sure that your volume is turned up and that you have access to the site. Note that some schools block access to YouTube.

If you are interested in additional passing and possession drills you want to check out World Class Coaching’s Complete Guide to Passing and Possession.

This post is courtesy of World Class Coaching

Here is an attacking drill that you can add to your coaching toolbox. This provides the opportunity to work on crossing while at the same time giving you a chance to work on defending

By Steven Smith
Steve Smith has been a men’s college coach that holds an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and a Doctorate in Physical Education.

Setup:
Two free zones are set up outside a 36 by 30-yard field. Zones are free from defenders. Grid size can be up to half field depending on age of players and functional desire of coach. The free zone sizes can also be adjusted.

Execution:
Flat back four defend groups of attackers who come from end line with the ball. They can attack in combination play up the center of the field or they can send the ball to the flank zone that is free of defenders. Ball is crossed quickly and attackers attempt to score. When ball is cleared a new group of attackers come at the same defenders. Attack in groups of 6 plus free zone attackers.

Variations:
Coach can limit the attacking group to four players plus the flank free zone players.

Coach can require all attack to come from flank with all attackers selling out to the crossed ball without any balance.

Coach can blow whistle and the ball must get to the flank within two touches.

Coach can allow counter attack opportunity for the defending group on opposite full size goal.

Coach can limit the number of attackers that can come into the box for the crossed ball.

 

Need some more ideas on how to attack? Check out this video series from World Class Coaching

Creative Attacking Drills

Take a virtual pitch side seat and watch how Chelsea Academy Coach, Chris Woodward trains players to move, think and react so they can be more creative in attack. 

This special video series runs you through a complete creative attacking session with Chelsea Academy Coach Chris Woodward. Watch how Woodward trains a group of players to be winners, with a progressive session that hones their thinking, movement and creativity in getting the ball across the line to score.(Includes a FREE companion eBook with easy-to-read descriptions and diagrams of what is shown in this 6 video set.)