All Posts by Tom Mura

0 4 v 4 + 3 Counter Pressing

0 #091 Do You Have Confident Players?

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0 7 v 4 Counter Pressing

0 7 v 7 Counter Pressing

1 4 v 2 Counter Pressing

This week's exercises are from our book, 'Counter Attacking in the Modern Game'In an area roughly 20 x 20 (depending on the technical ability of your players and the defensive acuity of your focus defending group) you will play 4 v 4 for possession. However, there is a midline in the grid that only two

0 Making Play Predictable

By Sean Pearson Area Size: Quarter or Half field (depending on age of players) Teams: 15 - 20 mins Players: 7 v 7 Objectives To stop forward penetration To force sideways and backwards passes Set-Up 2 teams set up in a 2-3-1 formation in a scrimmage like scenario. Execution The aim for this session is for

0 Clearing and Filling Space

By Alex Trukan Clearing and filling space is one of the principles of play that can be used across all age groups and levels. It can be used to create space in certain areas, get specific players on the ball as well as enable a team to play forwards. Clearing and filling is simple to

0 Restricted Space

By Wayne Henderson - At this time of year in the United Kingdom the adverse weather conditions can cause havoc when preparing and delivering your coaching sessions. Due to frost and snow, The Grass pitches we use were unplayable and we found ourselves and the rest of our team training on a smaller than usual

0 4 v 2 Counter Pressing

0 Shielding to Score

By Sean Reed - Objective This session continues on from the last session, focusing on protecting the ball under pressure in front of goal. This session can be progressed in a number of different ways which allows the coach to make it specific to the needs of their attacking players. Session 1 Diagram 1 Set

0 1 v 2 Transition Game

By Alex Trukan This practice is aimed at developing explosive power – fitness component responsible for quick bursts to the ball, 1v1 duels and sharp recovery after losing the ball. This conditioning component is improved by developing body’s ability to use more fuel, leading to delivering more explosive power. This is achieved in a 1v2

0 Lateral Play

By Mike Smith Ever ask your team, “What exactly are you doing to the other team?”? Meaning, are your possessions, movements and tactics really causing a team to make adjustments to deal with you? Often times the answer is “no”, and for those times, a little more focus on lateral play can be the “yes” which

2 Hourglass Passing Pattern

This week's Animated Drill Video shows a pattern shape that I've discussed in the past but with different progressions and a greater technical focus.   The diagrams are created with the session planner on Planet Training that is available through from Planet.Training. Please feel free to share this with your team or fellow coaches. What other

2 #090 VERY Small Training Sessions

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0 Pass Run and Replace

0 Spin and Show

0 Continuous Give-and-Go Pattern

0 Third Player Combination

0 Combining Off of a Target

0 Disguised Through Balls

By Sean Pearson Area Size: 35 x 45 yards 2 x (35 x 10) yard end zones 1x (35 x 25) yard middle zone Teams: 15 - 20 mins Players: 5 v 5 + 2 Objectives To have multiple runners behind the defense To be inventive and creative in passing into the space for the runners Set-Up

0 Goalkeeping Shape

By Wayne Henderson - Good shape for a goalkeeper is a “so called” lesser attribute that can make big differences to your Goalkeepers game. As shown in Diagram 1 there are 3 Diving techniques that show varying degrees of Diving shape, from Number 1 being the poorest (diving in a slightly backwards shape, to number

0 1 v 1 Protecting the Ball

By Sean Reed - Objective This session focuses on working with players to manage 1v1 situations where they are required to protect the ball while under pressure from a defending player. Session 1 Diagram 1 Set Up Working within an area 5-7yds x 5-7yds 1v1 in the area A ball on top of the cone

0 6v3 Possession Game

By Alex Trukan This practice is focused on developing players’ aerobic capabilities which are responsible for quick recovery between high intensity actions. If a player has a stronger aerobic system, it will mean that he will be able to produce high intensity actions more often during the match, with fatigue building up slower. In this

0 Training the 4 v 4 + 3

This week's Animated Drill Video is a little different than our others. It shows how I taught the early stages of activity to my U11 team. Getting the players to the point where they understand the demands of each position allows them to learn the important attacking and defending concepts and how they relate to the