By Daniel Severn
This week we have an easy to set up, fun, but hard working exercise. This exercise works well with either two or three players.
Set Up and Directions
The exercise is set up as shown below. We will show the exercise using just two active players and a goalkeeper. You could still keep a good, high tempo with three active players. You will begin with one player at the corner of the six-yard-box (this will be the ‘feeder’) and the other player (active player) facing away from the feeder, towards a line of cones.
Play begins with the active player shuffling through the cones as quickly as possible. As he gets to the end, the feeder plays a pass out in front of the active player, who curves his run around the tall cone in order to run onto the ball and take a first time shot. As soon as this player takes his shot, the roles switch – the feeder becomes the active player and begins to shuffle through the cones. The original active player must move quickly to get into position to play a pass for the new active player. The rotation is continuous.
Timing
I would usually ask for around seven repetitions per player - Depending on age and current level of fitness, that can easily be varied.
You could also challenge the players, if you have a number of pairs working simultaneously, to see which pair can complete the most repetitions in a set amount of time – e.g. 2 minutes.
Variations
1 – You can change the movement through the station
2 – Add in a station to focus more on agility.
3 – The feeder can play different pass (e.g. lofted pass/throw the ball). This way the striker has to adjust to strike the ball on the volley, or half-volley.
I hope you enjoy the exercise!
Dan
Program Director
BRASA Brazilian Soccer Academy
@coach_danny
