Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Fundamental Football School Youth Development S2

S6: Group play (15 mins)

PREPARATIONCircle of 25 meters in circumferenceSquare of 5 x 5 meters in the middlePlayers around the circle with each a ball4 players in the center squareGAMEAt the coach's signal, the players in the center run towards the players lined up around the circle.These pass to the running player, who then passes back to the player on the side.The players run back to the center and from the center they leave the square through the left or right side.SO DO NOT RUN STRAIGHT!!For example, make a feint to the right and run the left side out of the square and repeat the passing over and over again.Change players in the middle regularly.VARIATIONS (Both right and left)1. Assume forward, then return with the same foot2. Receive with the outside and return with the inside of the same foot3. Playback in 1 time4. Receive with the inside of the far foot and return with the inside of the other foot5 Receive with the inside and return with the outside of the same foot.6. Let the ball roll through your gate, turn it around and make a change of direction (stop turn) and then play it back.MATCH ELEMENTHow many steps in 1 minute?

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Each team has 8 players, 4 players inside the playing area and 4 players outside, if there are fewer than 16 players for this drill use 4 v 4 in the playing area and 4 players outside the playing area that are on the side of the team in possession of the ball.

The possession team have to maintain possession by passing (no dribbling past opposition players) and should make use of the players outside of the playing area.  The out of possession team has to press effectively to win the ball and then maintain possession through passing and using the players outside the playing area.  When the possession loses the ball they have to transition quickly into a defensive/pressing formation.

Good movement is required from all players, this is to provide passing options or to occupy the opposition so a pass can be made to a team mate.

The drill can be progressed by setting a minimum number of passes, maximum of touches.

If the passing teams are failing to put together a series of passes then a player from the defensive team can be removed to wait by the coach.  If the defensive team win possession then the player can be added, the coach would then have to instruct one player from the team who has just lost the ball to leave the playing area. 

Providing good movement, accurate passing and running off the ball is key to this drill. Players have to show awareness of team mates positions and runs off the ball and react quickly for the transition into a defensive formation.

This is stage 2 of this activity - In this stage now the players will look to score in the target goals and use the outside players to link up with. The team in possession can not score until they have linked up with a bumper player on the outside. This will help us from not playing direct and looking to play back or wide before attacking.