Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Training Transition

Activation Stage

Open the session with a series of dynamic stretching movements followed by short runs which increase in intensity as the number progresses. Leave at the end the freedom for the players to add any personal, still dynamic, stretches they feel necessary in order to begin the session.

From there, the team moves into two games of team handball. The numbers per side, size of the playing space, and use of goalkeepers is predicated on the actual number of available players, so modification might be necessary and is certainly fine. The rules of the game are as follows:

The ball is advanced by throwing it.

Players in possession of the ball are only allowed three steps.

The defending team may pressure the ball carrier, but no physical contact is allowed.

If while in possession, the attacking team drops the ball and it hits the ground, the other may immediately pick the ball up and counter attack.

Goals are scored by hand throws. Once scored upon, that team may immediately retrieve the ball and counter attack.

Any ball that goes out of bounds results in a traditional throw in.

* Always insure a buffer zone between multiple playing grids as shown in the diagram.

Spotlight Activity 2

In each half of the playing space is a 3 v 2 all of whom must stay in that half of the field. In the event that the attacking team loses the ball, the defending team looks to pass the ball into the other half of the space to a teammate. In the diagram shown, attacking player 1 loses the ball to defending player 2, who then passes it to teammate 3. Any ball that goes out of bounds or if a goal is scored results in play being resumed by a goalkeeper distribution (Allows for the GK to work on distribution.) The defending team is encouraged (if it's on) to use the goalkeeper in possession; again allowing for goalkeeper training (playing with their feet). The next phase allows for a member of the defending team that has now won the ball to join in the attack into the opposite space creating a 4 v 2 opening up possibilities for a countering 4 v 1 on the other side!