Tag Archives for " Small-Sided Games "

0 #259 Technical Training in Game Like Environments

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0 3 v 2 in Waves

In this week's Animated Drills Video I share another way that I setup my 3 v 2 games. This time you create three teams that play in, 'Waves'. Moving from Target Players to Attackers and then to Defenders. There's a couple of different ways that you can rotate the waves and I describe each one

1 3 v 2 Free Flowing Rotations

In this week's Animated Drills Video I share one of my two favorite ways to play 3 v 2 games with my teams. It's a fast paced, free flowing game that keeps the players engaged and excited. You can focus on attacking or defending topics using this setup. The diagram is being created with the

0 Two Grid Warm-Up

This week's Animated Drills Video shows you the warm-up that I often use with my own teams. It involves dribbling, passing and possession. It's shown being done on a field, which is my preference, but could be done in any area large enough for two grids. With my youngest teams I only need about a

0 7 v 7 Formations

In this week's Animated Drills Video I describe the different formations that are developmentally appropriate for the 9 and 10 year olds that play in this game model. I've discussed these ideas on the CoachingSoccerWeekly.com podcast but though a visual representation would be helpful. The diagram is being created with the Academy Soccer Coach software.

4 9 v 9 Formations

In this week's Animated Drills Video I discuss the different formations that are developmentally appropriate for the 10, 11 and 12 year olds that play in this game model. There are obviously more options for teams playing in the 9 v 9 model. I've discussed these ideas on the CoachingSoccerWeekly.com podcast but thought a visual

1 Four Different Scoring Methods for Small-Sided Games

This week's Animated Drills Video describes four different scoring methods that you can use to vary the level of challenge within your small-sided games. Each one will progressively increase the difficulty for attacking team. You can also use different scoring methods to change the focus of the activity. The diagram is being created with the

0 #181 US Youth Soccer Rule Changes - Three Years Later

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0 Transitional Decisions

By Sean Pearson Area: 36 x 44 yards Time: 20mins Players: 8v6+2 Objective: • To be compact while defending and then quickly spread out when possession is won • To connect passes in a composed manner in a tight area in front of goal. Set Up: The playing area is twice the size of the

4 Stopping the Change in the Point of Attack

By Sean Pearson Area: 30 x 44 yards Time: 15mins Players: 6v6 Objective: • To understand the roles of specific players in stopping the switch • To compact the area around the ball and cut off passing lanes Set Up: Both teams play with 2 central midfielders, 2 wingers, an attacking midfielder and a striker.

0 Hexagon 7-11 Warm up

By Steven Smith Area Size: Ten yards between each cone Teams: One person per cone with six cones Time: With alternating stretching intervals, approximately 15 minutes Setup: A hexagon is set up with 6 cones to create six sides. Make distance between cones about ten yards. Pre-assign wingers (7 and 11 players) to fill two of

0 Target Striker 2 v 2 + 1

By Steven Smith Area Size: Largest grid is 20 X 25. Inside grid is 12 X 15. Goal is full size and 15 yards from outside largest grid. Teams: Groups of 2 for possession and individual target strikers (can be midfield target players as well but functionally can be placed further from goal). Setup: · Field

1 Three Squares Small Sided Game

By Steven Smith Area Size: Largest grid of 55 yards by 55 yards. Middle grid of 35 yards by 35 yards and innermost grid of 15 by 15. Coach can adjust depending on age of players and objective. Teams: Three equally divided teams (one for each grid) Time: Approximately 15 minutes or extended as part of

0 5 v 4 High Press Game

By Steven Smith Area Size: Two fields of 20 by 25 side by side Teams: Four teams of four to five depending on objective Time: Approximately 15-17 minutes Setup: Two grids side by side are set up each with full size goals. Field size is 20 wide by 25 long. Two teams on each field set

3 4v4+4 Transition Game

By Steven Smith Area Size: Grid approximately 30X25 Yards Teams: Three teams of four or other variations of numbers as needed Time: 12-15 Minutes Setup: The teams are set up as shown with four black attackers vs. four yellow defenders. The red team is lined up on the outside of the field. Full sized goals with

1 Defensive Patterns

By Steven Smith Area Size: Full width and half field of length Time: Full progression will take about 12-15 minutes Setup: Two lines of four defenders face each other in a 40-yard gap in functional back third. Execution: Ball is passed from members of the same line and on coaches command the ball is passed to

0 8v8v8 Transition

By Steven Smith Area Size: Approximately 55 yards of width including space between the grids Team Size: Groups of 8 Time: 15 minutes for full rotation of all teams Setup: Two grids are set up 20X20 yards with a 15-yard gap in between them. Teams are divided into three groups of 8 (or other combinations of

0 Reverse Goal Transition

By Steven Smith Area Size: This activity can be done on a full-sized field or in smaller spaces depending on the needs of the coach and team sizes available for training. The two diagrams represent the two approaches. Teams: Two teams of various sizes depending on the space used Time: 15 minutes Setup and Execution: Full

0 3v3 With Three Mini Goals

By Steven Smith Area Size: Three cone or mini goals are set up on each end line of a 25 X 35-yard field. Players line up with half on each end line ready to come on as a 3 vs. 3 group to attack or defend. Teams: Two teams of 9 players each Time: For full

2 #116 Drills Don't Make Players Better

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0 2 v 2 + 2 Games

This week's Animated Drill Video looks at a number of different 2 v 2 games that include additional players outside of the field. By positioning the outside players in various ways you can emphasize different aspects of the game.   The diagrams are created with the session planner on Planet Training that is available through from

0 Getting Forward and Negative Passes

By Sean Pearson Area Size: Half a Field Teams: 2 teams (7 v 7) Time: 15 Minutes Objectives Aim to get as far forward as possible by either runs or passes from deep To understand when and where to pass backwards Set-Up Half a field with one main goal and 3 small goals at the half way

0 Pressing in a 4-3-3

0 Dummy Give & Go