Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): 1-1 Session (CB)

Warm Up Activities

Warm Up Activities:

Activity 1:

6 cones which are all different colours. Begin initially without the ball. The player begins by moving forward slowly whilst moving side to side. The coach will call 2 colours and the player has to react and get to those 2 cones in that order (in this instance orange then white).

To progress this call 3 colours to really test reactions and how the player changes direction at speed. Also add a ball to encourage the player to change direction at speed with the ball, keeping the ball close. To continue to progress the coach can play a pass into the player who then reacts and dribbles to a colour.

Coaching Points - Balance, Footwork, Close Control, Body Shape

Activity 2 - Footwork, Agility, Awareness and First Time Passing (3 - 5 sets in total):

1). Player begins in deep position and runs around the 2 central orange cones, they scan and drop deep to reach a pass from the coach. 2). Player recieves the ball and takes a touch across behind the central cones. 3). The player then passes the ball back to the coach. 4). The player runs around the furthest orange cone and receives a pass from the coach. 5). When the player receives the ball they drive forwards with it (Joe Gomez).

Repeat on the right side and that completes 1 set. (Start at low intensity & build to high intensity).

Coaching Points - Scanning, Dropping Deep, First Touch, Weight of Pass, Change of direction, Reactions

Activity 3 - Footwork, Reactions, Change of Direction:

The player starts inbetween the poles and performs short shaprt footwork movements around or inbetween the poles (figure of 8, side to side) and the coach will hold up either a yellow or blue cone and the player must react, sprint around that cone and then run through the cones in front of them.

Progressions:

#1 - Add a ball this time to play a bounce pass at the end of each of the poles then the coach will call a colour and the player reacts, sprints to that colour and runs through the cones.

#2 - With the ball the player shifts the ball left and right either side of the poles. The coach will hold up a colour this time, either blue or yellow (to encourage the player to look up), and dribble around that cone and continue to dribble the ball through the cones.

#3 - Remove the poles and the coach will play bounce passes with the player. The coach will call a colour and the player will dribble the ball around that cone but this time rather than dribbling through in and out of the cones the coach will play consequetive bounce passes to the player as they are moving in and out of the cones without the ball (ie. right side = right footed bounce passes).

Coaching Points - Close Control, Head-Up, Change of Direction at Speed, Awareness, Footwork, Shifting your weight

Activity 4 - Footwork incorporating heading:

The player begins by coming short to the cone in front then dropping deep for a header and then plays a pass on the floor back to the coach. The player then moves their feet in and out of the agility ladder (or use cones) and repeats on the other side.

Variations - Volley, Half-Volley, Ground Pass

Coaching Points - Balance, Footwork, Technique, Head Up, Body Position, Changing Direction

CB Specific Drill

Passing & Heading:

Part 1 - The player starts either on the left or right of the mannequin and plays a bounce pass, then comes short for a 2nd bounce pass, the player then scans, drops deep and recieves a pass to play back. The player then comes short and drops deep to play a clearing header. Once the header is played the player receives a pass on their back foot and dribbles behind the mannequin to play on the other side.

Part 2 - Same setup but adding 2 other cones to test reactions and changing direction quickly. The Coach plays bounce passes with the player giving commands as they do. The coach may say shift left, shift right, bounce right, bounce left or drop deep for a header or for the player to react and get in front of the mannequin or cones.

Commands - Inside left/right, Outside left/right, Drop Deeper, Header, Squeeze up

Progressions - Add a goal behind the defender out wide and then try to play a pass in there and they have to react and defend the goal quickly. Also add a tennis ball or throw another ball they have to try and catch before it lands to further test reactions.

Coaching Points - Eyes on the ball, First Touch, Technique, Heading Technique, Footwork, Squeezing