One of the perks of my job is that I get to see the sessions of some of the top coaches from around the world and then I can do that session with my youth teams. Sometimes I adjust the size of the areas or add neutral players to make the session work for my players but they are able to benefit from the basic ideas and the kids enjoy hearing that they're doing the same practice as professional or youth players from prominent clubs around the world.
I was looking through, 'Training Sessions of English Professional League Team', and came across a session from Sheffield United's U15 team. I've done a number of different diamond drills with my team and the variations in this practice gave me ideas for keeping this format fresh with new patterns.
Diamond Drill - Passing & Turning
In the following diagrams, five players are lined up in a diamond formation 20 yards apart. Each drill begins with X1 starting with the ball.
• X1 begins by passing to X2 and follows the pass
• X2 moves away, first to create space in front, and then checks back
• X2 turns with the ball around the OUTSIDE of the cone
• X2 then passes to X3, and follows the pass
• X3 moves away and then checks in
• Repeat sequence
Diamond Drill Passing &Turning - Variation
Players must now turn to the INSIDE of cone before passing to next player in sequence.
X1 starts off with two touches to initiate X2 movement.
Diamond Drill - Passing, Setting & Spinning
• X1 plays off two touches to initiate X2 movement
• X1 passes to X2 and then creates angle
• X2 moves away to create space in front, checks back, sets ball to X1 and then spins around the cone to collect a “through” pass from X1
• X2 plays to X3, who has moved away and checked back. X2 moves inside to offer angle inside
• X3 sets for X2 and spins around cone
• X2 plays a “through” ball to X3
• Repeat sequence
Diamond Drill - Passing, Setting & Spinning - Variation
Players must now move INSIDE of cone to create space outside.
Players spin to receive a “through” ball which has been played outside of the cone.
Diamond Drill - Passing, Setting & Spinning - Variation
• Players must now move away to create space in front
• X1 plays ball to X2 and supports inside
• X2 moves away to create space in front, then checks back to receive pass from X1
• X2 sets ball to X1 and then spins around outside of the cone
• X1 plays ball to target player X3
• X2 supports X3 with his outside run
• Repeat sequence using X3 as starting player and X5 as target player
Diamond Drill - Wall Pass Spinning & Turning
• X1 plays off two touches to initiate X2 and X4 movement
• X1 passes to X2 and follows pass
• X2 moves away to create space in front and then checks back. X2 plays ball into X4, who comes in short to play ball back behind X2’s cone
• X2 spins behind and outside the cone and plays into X3
• Repeat sequence with X3 playing into X4 and X1 now offering the wall pass
Diamond Drill - Progression
• X1 plays off two touches to initiate X2 and X4 movement
• X1 passes to X2 and moves inside for a support ball from X4
• X2 moves away to create space in front and then checks back to receive pass from X1
• X2 plays ball square to X4 who comes in short
• X2 spins behind and outside the cone and plays into X3
• X4 sets ball for X1, who in turn, slides ball inside of cone through to X2
• X2 passes to X3, who has moved away and checked in
• Repeat sequence in opposite direction
Diamond Drill - Progression
• X1 plays off two touches to initiate X2 and X4 movement
• X1 passes to X2 and moves inside for a support ball from X4
• X2 moves away to create space in front and then checks back to receive pass from X1
• X2 plays ball square to X4 who comes in short
• X2 spins behind and outside the cone and plays into X3
• X4 sets ball for X1, who in turn plays up to target player X3
• X3 who has moved away and checked in, sets ball back to X2, who plays square pass to X4
• Repeat sequence in opposite direction
Diamond Drill - Crossing & Finishing
• X1 passes to X2 and moves inside for a support angle
• X2 moves away to create space in front and then checks back to receive pass from X1
• X2 sets ball back to X1, who plays ball to target X3
• X1 then overlaps X2
• X3 sets ball for X4 who in turn plays ball to X1
• X1 crosses ball to X3 and X4 who have made curving runs into the box
• X5 offers deeps support
• After completion of cross/finish, X5 become target player for the left side combination play
• Sequence is repeated on both sides
There are countless patterns and combinations that you can use depending on the topic you want to focus on. Let us know how you use diamond drills with your team by leaving a comment on this post.
Have a Great Day!
Tom Mura
