Good coaches must be able to create realistic game conditions during their practices to prepare players for game day. Small-sided games with limited space, like the Transition Progression Drill below, forces players to make quick decisions and are a great way to get players a high volume of touches.

In the video clip below Dave Barrett, Illinois Wesleyan University Head Women’s Soccer Coach, demonstrates a Transition Progression Drill that can be used to re-create game pressure. The drill may would be effective in training both you offense or defense.

For more information about the DVD that this Transition Progression Drill came from click on the link Competitive Finishing Drills in Game Conditions

The YouTube video has sound so please make sure that your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site. (Some schools block access to YouTube)

The Transition Progression Drill begins with a 1v1 transition. The two players compete on a shortened field until one of them gets a shot on goal. After the shot a new opposing player will step on to the field and now the play will be 2v1 going the other direction. The drill will remain 2v1 until the next shot on goal. New players enter and now the play 3v2. The final player will enter on the next shot and the rotation ends 3v3. During the 3v3, play will continue until one team scores or until 1 minute has elapsed. That group of 6 players step off and another group of 6 prepares for the next rotation of the Transition Progression Drill.

Players are encouraged to shoot quickly. The drill is designed so that scoring opportunities develop quickly. Players should be encouraged to not pass up an opportunity to take a shoot on goal. If players play with the ball the will get very tired. The quicker they shoot, the faster they get to the 3v3 segment and can rotate out of the drill.

Here are three different reflex drills for goalkeepers. High quality goalkeeping requires athletes to think quickly and immediately recognize what is happening with the soccer ball. Many times the keeper must make a last second adjustment in order to stop the ball. This, of course, is happening while trying to process a lot of information.

Below Alberto Ruiz shows and explains three different reflex drills for goalkeepers. Each drill is designed to force them to process information quickly and the make a last second decision on how and where to play the ball. These drills are easily modified in order to gradually increase their difficulty. When used consistently these reflex drills for goalkeepers will improve their ability to react to last second changes during the match.

For other great videos or soccer tools visit www.albertoruizsoccer.com or go to his YouTube Channel ARS GoalKeeping

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

The first reflex drill for goalkeepers begins by having the goalkeeper at one post with his back to the field. Two servers are positioned with one to the right and one to left. Place 3-5 cones on the ground. Prior to the drill tell the keeper that even numbers mean that the shot will come from one direction and odd from the other. One of the servers calls out a number. The keeper, once the number is called, moves through the cones using a predetermined footwork pattern. After negotiating the cones, he will turn and face the field. He must process where the ball is coming from quickly as the appropriate server will put a shot on goal.

A second reflex drill for goalkeepers is executed as follows. The keeper stands in the middle of the goal with his back turned. Upon hearing a color he will turn and shut down space to defend the shot. Again each color will represent a different direction that the shot will be coming from.

The drill begins with the keeper facing the field, but this time another player will stand at the 6 yd line blocking his view of the server that is lined up with them. When the ball is served the player at the 6yd line can either block the keepers view or try and deflect the ball into the goal.

This explosive shooting and finishing drill is a great way to develop an aggressive mind set in your players. The small sided game creates multiple opportunities to shoot and finish quickly. In the video clip below Jimmy Gilligan, former head coach at Nike Football Academy and current coach of Nottingham Forest demonstrates an explosive shooting and finishing drill that he uses to create the mindset to score.

This drill is a 6v6 game with a 4v2 at each end of a small field. Players are confined to one half of the field.

This video and other great soccer videos may be viewed on the World Class Coaching YouTube Channel. For other great coaching tools you can  click the link World Class Coaching.

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

The explosive shooting and finishing drill is played on a short field of 35-40 yards and is played 4v2 at each end. Additionally, there is a goalkeeper in net at each end of the field. Players are not allowed to cross the midfield and must shoot from their side of the field. There will be four offensive players and two defensive players in each end of the field. The two defensive teammates on the other side can follow up a missed shot and try to score quickly, but the ball may not be passed in to them from the other half. After a shot is taken, the two defensive teammates are responsible for defending against the oppositions 4 player offensive unit. Should they win a ball they may attempt to score quickly.

If the ball is hit out of bounds the players simply run to the nearest ball ( several extra balls should be placed just outside the playing area) and put in play. To put the ball in play the players simple touches it with her hand and serves the ball in. Play should be fast an continuous. Players are encouraged to shoot at every opportunity.

In this NSCAA video two drills designed to improve your midfield point of attack are demonstrated. In the first drill coach Sarah Brady shows a 7v7 game that is played on a short but wide rectangular field. The dimensions are meant to replicate playing in the middle third. Having 14 players in this tight area emphasizes the importance of possession, spacing and playing quickly. She uses three small goals placed at each end. Players work to move the ball from the simulated middle third into the attacking third by scoring on one of the small goals.

In the second drill, Coach Brady progresses to using two large goals placed at either end on a half field. The half field is divided into three segments. The middle segment represents the middle third. players must remain in the middle third unless the receive a penetrating pass or attack the goal with a penetrating dribble.

For other great coaching resources visit NSCAA.com or you can look at more videos on the NSCAA YouTube Channel

The YouTube video has sound, so please make sure that your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site.