By Sean Pearson
Area Size: 30 x 30 yards
Teams: 2 teams (4 v 4)
Time: 15 Minutes
Objectives
- To be aware of where your team is and the position of opposing players
- To understand when, where and why to decide to switch the ball
Set-Up
Place 4 goals in each corner of the area, 2 for each team to score in and defend. You can only score with a 1-time finish.
Execution
This practice is about the awareness of your players. I find too many young players have tunnel vision when it comes to soccer or sports in general and just want to go one way and only one way. This practice therefore has 2 goals at opposite sides of the field for each team to allow players to decide on which goal to score on. Their decision is based on the opposition player positioning.
When in possession the team looks to spread out and see which goal has the most opportunity to score in.
If opposition players shift to block 1 goal it is at this point that players must understand that this goal (or direction) is closed off and the team should change directions and switch the play to the other side. So as well as passing and moving, players should also be looking at the position of opposition players.
Variations
- Add a neutral
- Can only score after a set number of passes, 3, 5, 8 etc.
- Must dribble past someone before the team can score
- 2/1 touch max
- Must be 1 pass with the outside of the foot before you can score
By Sean Pearson. Sean is also the author Coaching Team Shape in the 3-3-1, Coaching Team Shape in the 4-2-3-1 and Coaching Team Shape in the 4-3-3
