By Chris Kouns
USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Women’s Soccer Coach – Georgia Gwinnett College
Set Up:
On each side of the 18 yard box create a triangle of cones. Put players on the three cones on each side of the box for a total of 6 players working at a time.
Instructions:
The deepest player in the triangle will play a ball to the player closest to the top of the 18 yard box. That player will return the ball and then spin out to receive the give and go pass on the opposite side of the triangle. They will take a dynamic touch away from the triangle and then strike a long switch to the other triangle. While the first triangle was playing the give and go the opposite triangle player will check away and then come back to receive the long switch. When he receives the ball he will take a 1 touch turn and restart the pattern for the ball to change again.
Coaching Points:
- Quality of the ball in combination and in long switch
- Speed and angle of checks away and of turning with the ball
- Pace of passes through the triangle should be full speed
- Body shape should encourage quick interchange
Set Up:
Around the box there will be three sets of cones and on the opposite side of the 18 yd box there will be a single cone. You will have players at all 6 cones in the pairs and a player at the lone come too
Instructions:
The (black) pair will play a give and go that ends with a slotted switch to the runner coming off the single cone for a touch and finish. The (black) player who slotted the cross will bend a run to the back side of the 18 yd. arc where they will be served a diagonal cross from the (yellow) pair. That pair will start their give and go after the first black pass in the combination. The (yellow) player who served the diagonal cross will then make a slightly bent run to the penalty spot where they will receive a driven ball off the (white) pair give and go for a one time finish. That (white) pair will start their give and go after the first (yellow) pass in the combination.
Coaching Points:
- Quality of the ball in combination and in service
- Runs off the ball should be timed to arrive and not get in early
- Technical quality of all finishes
- Body shape for both crosses and finishes off the services
Set Up:
Utilizing 1/3 of a field you will have one full goal and three counter attack goals. Field will be the width of the 18 yd. box.
Instructions:
Within the field teams will play five v three in the central area. On the wide sides of the field there will be a 3 v 1 on each side. The five must complete four passes and then serve the ball out to the 3 v 1 before they are allowed to finish. Once the ball gets to the 3 v 1 there are no touch restrictions, they must simply serve into the five for a finish. If the three win the ball or the GK makes a save they can go to the three counter goals. They can also use the 1 on each width but that player (who cannot be defended) is limited to two touches.
Coaching Points:
- Wide players must shape their body so that they can serve the ball for a finish first time or they should move the ball to an open player who can serve as quickly as possible
- The five players should alter their runs so that they arrive on different levels and at different times in order to make it more difficult to finish
- The balls served into the five should be at a pace that will allow them to be finished on a redirection rather than having to take a touch to get it from under their feet.
- All balls should be played on diagonals to make it easier to finish
By Chris Kouns: USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Coach Georgia Gwinnet College Women’s Soccer (GA)
