Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): U15-19 - Game Day Warmup

Field Set Up

Before players arrive, assuming we have half a field to warm up on, the layout should look as follows:

Dynamic warmup set up, starting on the sideline. 4 8x8 boxes. 

Rondo's can be played inside those boxes

2 boxes combine to make 1 grid for possession based activity, setting up 2 games at once. 

Keeper has the goalie box to warm up in. 

We then have 4 other grids set up already prepared for our position specific small sided games. 

Attackers and keepers in a 20x30 inside the 18.

Midfielders in the middle third in a 30x25

Wingers and fullbacks in the wide channels in a 12x8 on either side of the field. 

Passing Activation (3 mins)

Passing Activation (1 min per variation)

Here, we're working on the players' angling their bodies, turning on their first turn and communicating with each other. (Technical points: Moving off the cone to offer an angle, pass/receive using the correct foot, show with hands where they want the ball to be passed, communicate on every pass). Players will follow their pass every time.

A.) 1 goes to 2, that turns and find 3, that will dribble back to start.

B.) 1 passes to 2, that turns and finds 3, that will pass back to 1.

C.) 1 passes to 2, that sets back for 1 to pass to 3. 3 does a give and go with 2, and finds 1 again.

2v2 +3/ 3v3+2 (10 mins)

Players now play possession based game in 10x20 grid. Open up each grid slightly from original set up so fields aren't too tight. 3 sets of 2.5 mins, (45 sec rest between sets). Each round targets switch into game, and 2 players warming up goalie now jump into each game, switching with 2 others.

In the 2v2 +3, players play a 2v2 in the grid, trying to connect from one target on one end to the other. There is a neutral CM in the middle, making the game a 3v2 centrally at all times. Enforce trying to use the lines to open up the game create space centrally for a quick forward pass. Encourage one touch passes when applicable, and use of back foot to take touches forward.

Similar idea in the 3v3 +2, only now, instead of there being one CM for both teams as a neutral, each team has a third player they should be looking to combine with as a CM. Still enforce same technical points, and remind central player to delay his run to find spaces to check into for 2v1 situations.

Keeper Warmup Cont.

GK Warmup (3 mins)

In this next part, we'll get 2 players (CB's) to work on the specific passing action involving these 3. Goalie's role is to move out of the goal line to offer a better angle for a pass, receive on their back foot and find the player on the opposite side. Once that player has received the ball, goalie will move across and do the same thing on that side. Encourage players to receive on their back foot, looking up the field before passing back to the goalie. That will not only increase the game realistic aspect of the actions, but also give the goalie enough time to reset their position in relation to the ball.

Position Specific SSG (10 Mins)

18 players total. 3 games of 2.5 min - 45 secs rest between games.

3v3 - GK + 2 CB's against front 3. (20x30) With this group, focus for strikers should be to get loads of repetition of goal scoring opportunities, enforcing movement off the ball to find diagonal runs across CB. CB's can pass into gate to score.

3v3 - 6, 8, and 10 vs Opposing 6, 8, and 10. (30x25) The emphasis for our midfield 3 in possession should be to find forward passes as early and often as possible. In moments where forward spaces are not available, the #6 or #8 on the ball can dribble to engage a defender and create a 2v1 to play out and find a central penetrating pass into the #10 who can now dribble out or pass through a gate.

2v1's in Wide Areas - 2/3 and 7/11 vs Opposing 7/11. (12x8) The focus here should heavily emphasize the desire to take on the player 1v1 to go forward, but also for our full back to have the confidence and desire to join the attack when we progress into the middle third.

Switch wingers each set to ensure they get repetition going to goal and in build up.

Make sure we are highlighting and constantly repeating the TTP's we focused on during the week throughout the warm up in your coaching points to prepare them for patterns in the game and so they already have an idea of what to expect in the pregame talk.