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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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By Steven Smith Area Size: Two 12 by 12 yard grids are set up just outside the 18-box as shown. Groups are divided into five per group. Need at least 10 players plus keepers. Teams: Four teams of five in two different bib colors Time: 12 minutes Objective: To be able to technically retain possession in
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By Steven Smith Area Size: Set up a 30 x 35 yard grid as shown. Place 7 black vs. 7 yellow inside grid. Seven red players each possess a ball on the outside of the grid ready to cross. Teams: Three groups of seven Time: For full progression approximately 15 minutes Set up and Execution: The
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By Steven Smith Area Size: A grid that is 20 X 20 is set up with three dummies (or poles) in the middle as shown. Three groups of three are divided into color groups. Teams: At least two teams but prefer three or more. Time: 20 minutes for full progression to completion. Objective: The objective is
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By Steven Smith One vs. one skill development is essential to winning games. The teams that can efficiently dismantle other teams in one vs. one challenges all over the field will have better chances at scoring and winning games. This session is designed to develop those skills. The session can be done as a progression or
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By Steven Smith Setup: Two goals are set up 36 yards apart with a 44 yard width (two penalty boxes). Multiple balls are set inside of both goals and a keeper is placed in front of each net. Execution: Goal keepers attempt to score on each other by throwing, drop kicking, punting or serving off the
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By Steven Smith Setup: One grid is set up in the front third of the field using a full half field. The grid is set with the width of the 18 yard box making the width of the grid 44 yards. Execution: Four players come from the midfield stripe or a bit closer as shown in
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By Steven Smith Setup: Two free zones are set up outside a 36 by 30-yard field. Zones are free from defenders. Grid size can be up to half field depending on age of players and functional desire of coach. The free zone sizes can also be adjusted. Execution: Flat back four defend groups of attackers who
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By Steven Smith Setup: Three to four sets of the triangles are set up as shown in the first diagram. Three players are in each triangle and set up on the cone in each location. Distance between cones should be about five yards within the triangle and 15 yards between triangle sets. Execution: Players execute a
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By Steven Smith Setup: This activity is designed to encourage dribble penetration through the field when space is given. Teams who recognize space for speed dribbling will force defenses to make decisions based on the attacking team. It will be more likely that advances into more dangerous spaces on the field will occur. Execution: Two grids
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By Steven Smith Setup: This activity is designed to convert possession to shooting in a quick sequence. The teams must focus on proper and skillful possession of the ball in a tight space and then quickly convert that to a shooting opportunity and apply good finishing skills. Execution: Two grids are set up in 18 yard
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By Steven Smith Setup: Warming up our players often happens separate from the actual skills of soccer and is viewed by many coaches as unrelated to the theme of training in the main series. This activity emphasizes a gradual warm up using the skills that will be needed during the main series when working on passing
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By Steven Smith Two versus Two Transition to Goal Setup: Two full size goals are set up 36 yards apart facing each other and players are placed evenly at each post with balls at the right posts of both goals ready to enter into play. Goalkeepers occupy each of the goals. This activity is extremely demanding
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By Steven Smith Area Size: 40 X 35 Grid Teams: Everyone on the team in groups of two Time: 10-12 minutes Objective: Increase passing skills in teams of all developmental levels Narrative This warm up activity can take away the boredom that often comes with warming up. It is a gradual progression of passing and receiving with
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By Steven Smith Three Squares Area Size: For groups of six’s or seven’s a square grid of 44X44 (progressively smaller sized grids inside of larger grid) Teams: Three groups of six or seven (or other numbers as coach chooses) Time: 10-12 minutes Objective: Increase passing skills in teams of all developmental levels Narrative Taking risks and
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By Steven Smith Over the River Objectives: Increase possession skills while training fitness and transition. Increase the ability to defend in small groups. Set-Up This activity is designed to increase possession skills while focusing on transition, fitness and defensive pressure. It is perhaps one of the most challenging fitness possession games for a senior level team. The
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