Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Pre-Season U15's

Speed Drill - Coerver

Practice Organisation:

- A 20x20yd square with a small 4yd square marked out in each corner.

- A mannequin outside the square can be adjusted if needed.

- An even number of payers in the corners.

- Practice starts with: A player from each corner runs anti-clockwise towards next square, once there they tag the next player, he then sets off. Player A must run around mannequin and try and catch Player B.

Progressions:

- Add a football.

- Change style of run, backwards, sideways etc.

Learning Objectives:

- To improve speed with and without the ball.

- Stay low for good turns and good acceleration.

4 v 4 (+ 3 Neutrals) (15 mins)

Suitable for 8's - 18's. Simply reduce pitch size as players get older.

This game should end with the players playing predominantly one and two touch, wothout the coach having to put those restrictions on the game. Very little dribbling/turning.

4 Reds v 4 Blues, + 3 Neutral Yellows. No player is restricted in where they can go. The key to success for the team in possession ( Reds at the moment ) is to maintain their disciplne and stay roughly between the two cones as indicated. This way the player with the ball will have more options. More triangles are created and the 4 defenders ( Blues at the moment ) should struggle to regain possession.

As soon as the defending team make a regain the game continues and they should make their way to the gaps between the cones as quickly as possible.

Learning Objectives

*Recognising where to position yourself to be available for a team mate.

*Learning that by having the discipline to maintain your position, by shuffling only a few yards in any direction, your team mates will always know where you are and will be able to retain possession easily.

Technical

*Body shape - Always open to see as much as possible/to be aware of as many options as possible.

*Passing - Weight/Timing of release.

*Receiving - away from pressure, to entice pressure.

*Direction changes, ball manipulation.

Tactical

*Understanding where to position yourself to be available for the ball, and being aware of as many of your options as possible when in possession of the ball.

Physical

*Low to medium intensity when in possession.

*High intensity when out of possession.

Psychological/Social

*Intelligence to expand pitch when necessary.

*Desire to deny space without the ball.

*Knowledge of triggers of when to press.