Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): 4th Oriented control (Start Time: 2025-09-22 17:30:00)
Description
Objective of Oriented Control in Soccer
The main objective of oriented control is to ensure that the first touch always prepares the next action. By directing the ball into space with the correct body positioning, the player:
Gains time and speed in decision-making.
Maintains possession under pressure.
Opens passing lanes and angles to progress play.
Creates advantage by moving the ball away from the defender.
Links the technical action (first touch) with the tactical need (next pass, dribble, or shot).
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
15 mins
Goal Kick Oriented Control
Duration: ~10 minutes
Equipment: Two small goals, minimum 12 cones, balls
Description
Set up two zones: A (right wing) and B (left wing).
On each side, the activity begins from the small box on that wing.
The first player drives the ball forward with control and, upon reaching the cone in front, passes to the next player.
The receiving player performs an oriented control (directional first touch) and plays the ball wide to the winger.
The winger takes an oriented control toward goal and enters the 1v1 zone against the defender waiting there.
The winner of the 1v1 stays in; the player who loses joins the line on the opposite side.
Objectives
Building out from a goal kick through the wings
Oriented control (directional first touch)
Attacking and defending in 1v1 situations
Rules
Receive with correct body positioning to execute an effective oriented control.
Every duel in the 1v1 zone finishes with a shot on goal.
Progressions
Add a build-up phase from Zone C leading into a 2v2 on the big goals, where scoring is allowed either through a pass into the goal or by dribbling in.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
5 mins
Double-Area Game (two-touch, double goal)
Duration: ~10 minutes
Equipment: Two goals, minimum 10 cones, balls
Description
Divide the field into two halves.
Defenders must stay in their defensive half; attackers must stay in the attacking half.
Defenders are allowed to move forward only after connecting with an attacker through a pass. Once the play ends, they must return to their defensive position.
When the ball goes out of play, the goalkeeper of the opposing team (the team that did not lose possession) restarts the game.
A goal scored with two touches counts as a double goal (2 points).
Objectives
Improve build-up play under positional constraints
Develop transition awareness and collective attacking/defending
Rules
Defenders cannot cross into the attacking half unless joining play after a pass to an attacker.
Attackers cannot drop into the defensive half.
Every restart begins with the goalkeeper of the non-offending team.
Progressions
Limit touches further (e.g., play one-touch only).
Reduce the playing area to increase intensity.
Play animation
Play step-by-step
Repeat (toggle)
Full Screen
Pause
Stop
10 mins
Oriented Control Warm-Up
Duration: ~7 minutes
Equipment: Minimum 4 cones, 10 players, and 2 balls
Description
Set up a square with 4 cones.
Place 4 players on the sides of the square (one extra behind the starting point with the ball) and 4 players on the corners (also one extra behind the starting point with the ball).
Ball 1 circulates between the corner players. They pass and use oriented control to move the ball along the outside of the square. After passing, each player moves dynamically to the position they passed to (adding warm-up movements).
Ball 2 circulates between the players on the sides of the square. They also pass and use oriented control, then move to the position they passed to.
Objectives
General warm-up
Passing technique with the inside of the foot
Oriented control
Correct body positioning for effective first touch
Rules
If the players are very young, start with two separate squares, each working independently with their own ball.
Once they are comfortable with the activity, merge the two groups into a single square with two balls in circulation.
Always start where there is more than one player.
Pass with good intensity and precision.
First touch (oriented control) should guide the ball toward the next pass.
Progressions
Rotate roles: when passing from a corner, move to a side; when passing from a side, move to a corner.
Change the direction of ball circulation.