Every good training session should begin with a quality dynamic warm-up comprised of soccer specific movements. In this post you will see four soccer specific warm-up exercises.

Rick Moss, Director of Coerver, instructs players during a Warm Up drill, which is part of his Covering Performance demonstration at a recent Glazier Soccer Clinic.  Coach Moss is from England and has multiple years of coaching experience with club and youth soccer players.

This drill is set up by making a grid that is approximately 20 yards in length and width.  Players are split up into different groups working across the grid.  The first players in each line go together with the second and third players following.  Coach Moss demonstrates the warm up he wants done and then the players follow working across the grid and stopping on the side before going back across.

The four warm up exercises that Coach Moss works on with the players are listed below:

1. Side to Side Shuffle

The first player in each line shuffles facing one direction and then switches direction half way across the grid.  This simple exercise gets the feet and legs moving while players start to get their bodies warmed up.

2. Inside/Outside Ankle Touches

The next warm up exercise involves each player bringing their feet and legs in and up to touch with their hands, then doing the opposite so their feet and legs go to the outside where they touch each again.  If a player is not used to doing this, it will take some time and involves a lot of coordination.

3. Jog & Backward Shuffle

Each player jogs out to the first cone located in the middle of the grid, then they shuffle backwards switching direction every couple yards as they move back to where they started.

4.Jog & Forward Shuffle

The players jog out to the first cone, then shuffle through the three cones in the middle of the gird, and finish by jogging to the other side of the grid.

This clip is a sample from a presentation conducted by Coach Moss. For information about how to gain access to his entire presentation, as well as hundreds of other clinic presentations, click the link Glazier Soccer Clinics

The YouTube video below 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

Small sided games are a great way to teach concepts and get your players multiple touches. In this post you will see a fast paces small sided games that creates multiple scoring opportunities.

In the video clip below Tom Mura, from World Class Coaching, shares a great small sided game he calls Continuous 3v3v3. This drill can easily be adapted to 4v4 or 5v5. The idea is to create multiple scoring opportunities for multiple players in a fast paced drill.

In this video, Coach Mura is using a grid of 20 x 15 and medium sized goals with no goal keepers. He divides nine players into three teams of three. One team of three is placed in the middle of the field and the other two are assigned a goal to defend. The team in the middle of the field will attack one end. Should they score a goal, they would take the ball out of goal and attack the other team at the other end. They would continue to keep the bal as long as they score. If the defending team wins the ball (or the shot on goal fails), they will take the ball and attack the opposite end of the field. If they score the keep the ball and attack the opposite end. If the fail to score the defensive team will take the ball and attack the opposite end. This pattern continues until either a certain score has been reached or a specified amount of time has elapsed.

One coaching point is to stress the importance of getting an offensive player in behind the defense. This will potentially create an opportunity to split two defenders with a pass.  If the defense drops a player back to cover the offensive players, then there will be additional open space to pass and attack with the ball.

Our partners at World Class Coaching offer a wide variety of resources for coaching. Here is one that you can get for free. Click the link  44 Small Sided Games and receive this free eBook.

The YouTube video below 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.

Don’t forget to get your FREE copy of 44 Small Sided Games

Need a great way to start your training sessions? Take a look at this versatile warm-up drill appropriate for all skill levels. This drill easily adaptable to various skill levels.

In the clip below from World Class Coaching, Tom Mura explains his Dot Warm-up drill. The drill is played in a 20 x 20 area with five players. You can of course adjust the number of players and size of the playing area. Larger playing areas give the drill a conditioning component, while smaller fields place and emphasis on technical skills.

The drill requires that each player have a ball and the use of cones of three different colors. The cones are spread evenly throughout the playing area. Care should be taken to make sure that there is at least one cone of each color in every third of the field. In other words, make sure that each color of cone is spread evenly throughout the playing area.

Initially, the players are told to dribble their ball in the playing area avoiding each other and the cones. This of course requires they keep their heads up. The next progression requires that the players dribble in a predetermined pattern of their choosing. They might dribble towards the red cone, then yellow and then blue. They would then just keep repeating that sequence. (red-yellow-blue). Each player will choose their own sequence.

Next the coach will call out an action. For example, you might say that when your reach a yellow cone you must do a step over, or a specific type of turn. As you progress. add another action for when they are at a blue cone. Finally add a third action for when they arrive at a red cone.

Again this drill is courtesy of our partners at World Class Coaching, providers of many great coaching tools. You can check them out at the link above.  They are also offering free access to their eBook 50 Small Sided Games that Make a Difference

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

Don’t forget to get your free eBook from World Class Coaching. Just click the link below

In this post you will get 4 drills from Houston Dynamo Goalkeeper Coach Paul Rodgers designedto help teach technique and fundamentals to your goalkeeper.

In the clip below, Coach Rodgers leads several drills during his Goalkeeping – Training a Pro demonstration.  Coach Rogers is very experienced and has been a goalkeeper coach in the past for the United States Women’s National Team.  These drills are designed for professional players, but could be used by high school or any age group of goalkeepers.  Also, you can use these drills for a pre-game warm up or in a regular practice session.  The main objective should always be to get your goalkeeper good practice and reps, while continuing to work on the proper techniques and fundamentals.

The four drills that are demonstrated are listed below:

Shuffle and Save

The goalkeeper shuffles around several cones moving forward before a volley shot is taken by a coach or player from 5 – 10 yards away.  This very simple drill gets the goalkeeper practicing on their footwork while finishing with a point blank shot to save.

Side steps and Shuffle

This drill involves the goalkeeper doing side steps over small hurdles, crossing over, and then saving a volley shot.  The goalkeeper is now practicing moving to the side with quick footwork before coming back and saving another shot

Side steps, back pedal, and forward

The goalkeeper now side steps over the small hurdles, then back pedals, and goes forward before saving a volley shot.  This drill is important for goalkeepers to practice moving forward while keeping balance and staying on their toes.

Quick steps, back pedal, and settle in

This drill involves the goalkeeper taking quick steps forward over small hurdles, back pedaling, and then settling in to save a volley shot.  This gives a goalkeeper practice and reps with moving backwards to save shots, which can happen in a game.  There should be a focus on the goalkeeper staying on their toes to make sure they are able to dive either direction depending on the shot.

The clip is just a small portion of Coach Rodgers Goalkeeping presentation at a recent Glazier Soccer Clinic. For information about how to gain access to his entire presentation, as well as hundreds of other great clinic presentations, click the link Glazier Soccer Clinics

The YouTube video below has audio, so please make sure that your sound is turned up. Note some schools block access to YouTube.

In the clip below from World Class Coaching, Jimmy Giligan leads players in a crossing and shooting drill that is part of his Quick Play In and Around the Box demonstration.

The drill is set up on a regulation size field starting around 40 yards away from the goal. The play begins with a short pass between two players at the top of the grid. The receiving player turns with the ball and passes it out wide into space where an outside mid type player is making a run. While this pass is going to the outside, the player takes a long shot from the middle of the field, then continues his run to receive a cross from the outside player and tries to score. While the ball is being passed to the outside, a player on the opposite side of the field is weaving through poles and then over small hurdles in a footwork and agility drill. This player then sends in a cross from a pass which goes into the middle player after taking a shot from the first cross.

The drill then continues with the next players in each line performing the same roles. This drill is beneficial during a training session or a warm up before a game because there are multiple players involved. The player passing to the outside and taking the shots could be a forward or center midfielder, which is realistic to possible plays during a game. The outside players could be outside midfielders or outside backs that work the sidelines and get the crosses into the box. Coach Giligan instructs players to play quickly throughout the drill in order to keep the pace of play high and make the drill similar to a game like situation. This is important to note because if players are going through the motions or not playing quick enough, the drill is not very beneficial because there are no defenders involved.

The YouTube video below 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.

Our partners at World Class Coaching offer a variety of free resources. Click the link 31 Shooting Drills to gain access to this free eBook