Andrew Hughes
| Name: | Andrew Hughes |
|---|---|
| City: | Birmingham |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Membership: | Adult Member |
| Sport: | Football/Soccer |

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Description:
Players pass the ball to each other on the side of the pitch for 40 seconds. On the whistle, they run across to the other side of the pitch within 10 seconds and repeat. Complete 8-12 repetitions. Interval training.
Objective:
Building our endurance to allow us to play a quick, high pressing game.
Coaching points:
Stay focussed during your rest periods by passing the ball with accuracy.
When we are tired and fatigued, we should continue to work as this is where games are won and lost.
When our backs are against the wall, we don't pull out great performances we revert back to our attitude and our basic level.
Make your basic level high by competing with a great attitude.
Progressions:
- Increase workload (reps, distance)
- Increase intensity (time to cross pitch)
- Have to do a set number of passes during rest period
- Increasing amount of touches before each pass, to increase focus eg 1 touch pass, 1 touch then pass, 2 touches pass.

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Description:
Players are passing the ball around centre area.
When whistle is blown, number/colour/letter has to run around the far cone and back within 12 seconds.
After another 20/30 seconds the other number/colour/letter does the same. Constant practice. 4-5 reps each.
Objective:
Building our endurance to allow us to play a quick, high pressing game.
Coaching points:
Stay focussed during your rest periods by passing the ball with accuracy.
Heavy interference: Move to receive.
Receive on the half turn, with the back foot.
Communicate to passer.
Touch direction and speed. Scan pitch to see next pass, stay focussed by thinking ahead.
When we are tired and fatigued, we should continue to work as this is where games are won and lost.
Make your basic level high by competing with a great attitude.
Progressions:
- Increase workload (reps, distance)
- Increase intensity (less time to cross pitch)
- Have to do a set number of passes during rest period
- Restrict amount of touches to encourage focus and increase intensity.

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Description:
Out of possession team are heavily underloaded. They are looking to get all 8 balls out of play as quickly as possible. They are akin to the forward players looking to win the ball back.
When they get too tired, they can switch with players on the outside. (Pressing is a team game)
In possession team are overloaded, this is like the defensive team winning the ball back in their defensive third. The team with the quickest time to get 10 balls out of play are the winners.
Players to write down pressing triggers.
(Poor touch, bad pass, back to play/facing own goal, poor body orientation, defensive overload, nervousness, proximity to touchline)
Objective:
To share the workload of winning the ball back quickly.
Coaching points:
- Nearest player triggers the press
- Press together as a group, not as lone defenders
- Provide cover and support with your positioning. Consider distance of support and communication of support (be concise)
- Make play predictable, trap your opponents by using defensive support, angle of pressure, body shape/position and the touchline as an extra defender
- Freshness makes small group pressing possible (share the workload)
- Communicate with each other, if you see someone tiring, tell them to swap out
Progression:
Defensive progs:
- Just a touch on the ball
- Force ball out of play
- When recovering the ball, play to your team mate on the side of pitch or into goal to kill the ball. (Or any of these reduce overall time) (Risk/reward)
Att progs: Add time every pass into magic man (playing through lines)

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Description:
Players have 7 seconds to win the ball back and attempt to score. Depending on how quickly they win the ball, their consequent goal will be worth more points.
I.e. Win ball back with 6 seconds remaining and score = 6 points. Win ball back with 3 seconds remaining and score = 3 points.
Objective:
To win the ball back from the opposition quickly and respond positively.
Coaching points:
Work as a team to win the ball back
- Use your angle of approach to make play predictable
- Who presses and who covers? (Communication)
- Use the touchline as an extra defender
- If we don't/can't win the ball back within 7 seconds, use the position of the goals and your body to steer the opposition into less dangerous areas and make play predictable
- What triggers you to press again?
- Why might you not press?
- When you win the ball back, release it quick to someone who is fresher and can see the play.
Progression:
- Remove the score zone. This will make build-up play faster and give less opportunities for the defensive team to tackle/intercept
- Play with under/overloads
- Coach to shout 'goal' or 'line' to change what teams are defending. Line will be easier to attack, goal easier to defend
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Warm up (10 mins)
Description:
Players perform the Double Outside Cut Scissors across the pitch. The defending player jockeys and changes their defensive stance based on the attackers body position and angle of attack. When they reach the end, the players swap roles.
Objective:
To get our bodies ready for the session and introduce a skill that can be used to evade opposition pressure when in possession of the ball.
Coaching points:
Defenders to have soft knees to enable them to change direction quickly and use their arms to keep balance.
Progression:
- Use cones to encourage eyes up from all players. Players call out colour of cone.
- More complex skills. Add cuts to move defender more, or add components for grouping
- Introduce a set number of touches/repitions to do each turn.