By Philip Cauchi
Title: Relay Games For Soccer Endurance
Aim: To develop soccer-specific endurance
Introduction: The following are three relay games that target the development of soccer-specific endurance. Although personally I am more in favour of global and small-sided games to develop endurance, these might prove handy in introducing variety to the training routine, to maintain the interest and motivation levels of the players.
Relay game 1: Dribbling course plus finish on mini goal post.
Organization: The team should be divided into two equal teams (team A and team B). Each team has four poles positioned one yard in front of each other. A gate should be positioned one yard behind the last pole and three yards from the mini goal post.
Description: The front player of each team dribbles around the poles prior to dribbling through the gates and finishes on the mini goal post. Immediately another player from the same group starts his/her turn. It is forbidden to have two players from the same team taking part simultaneously. Sequence is continued after the time period is over or the maximum amount of goals are scored. The winner is the team that has scored the most number of goals.
Technical development:
Dribble the ball using both feet.
Kick with accuracy.
Relay game 2: Passing combination prior to finish on goal.
Organization: The team should be divided into two equal teams (team A and team B). Each team has a mannequin positioned ten yards in front of the player with the ball (A1 and B1). The second player should be positioned with his/her back to the mannequin (A2 and B2).
Description: The player with the ball passes to the second player who returns the ball in space and then spins around the mannequin to receive the return pass prior to finishing on the mini goal. A1 and B1 take the place of the player with his/her back to the mannequin (A2 and B2) while the latter collects the ball and goes back in line. Sequence is continued after the time period is over or the maximum amount of goals are scored. The winner is the team that has scored the most number of goals.
Technical development:
Passing with accuracy.
Spinning to attack the return pass played in the space.
Relay game 3: Diagonal passes to finish with accuracy.
Organization: We have two groups of players where each group is further divided into two sub-groups (Group B - B1 and B2 and group A - A1 and A2). The subgroups are positioned twelve yards diagonally apart from each other. A mini goal post is positioned five yards in front of the last group (A2 and B2).
Description: Player 1 of each group (A1 and B1) passes diagonally to his/her teammate player 2 (A2 and B2). Player 1 follows his/her pass to receive the ball again to finish with accuracy on the mini goalpost. After each repetition player 1 takes the place of player 2, player 2 picks up the ball and joins the team’s line. Sequence is continued after the time period is over or the maximum amount of goals are scored. The winner is the team that has scored the most number of goals.
Technical development:
Passing with accuracy.
Quality of the lay-off pass.
By Philip Cauchi
