PASSING AND RECEIVING, #1

Set Up:  

12-18 players are set up on a large grid. Half of the players move within the grid, receiving balls from the other half stationed on the outside. Certain conditions can be put on the drill:

1)  One touch return passes.

2)  Control an air ball, return pass.

3)  Receive, turn away, pass to any player on the outside.

4)  Head the ball back to the server.

5)  Dribble onto the field, pass the ball to an outside player and trade places with him.

Coaching Points:

1.  An air ball should be controlled and passed within two touches. 

2.  Choose the ball control technique as early as possible (chest trap, thigh trap, etc.)

3.  Direct the first touch away from the traffic (or away from an imaginary defender).

Progressions: 

1.  Progress to Windows in Threes.  

Set Up:  

Ten players are set up inside of the large grid. During play, the ten players pass three balls around the field in sequence, with Player 1 passing to Player 2, Player 2 passing to Player 3 and so on, until the ball reaches Player 10. Player 10 then passes to Player 1, and the cycle continues. The conditions of the drill may vary during play (see Progressions), and the direction of play can be reversed at any time.

Coaching Points:

1.  Players should make eye contact and talk on every pass.   

2.  Players looking to receive should not get lost in a crowd (aka ‘hiding in dead space’).

3.  Stay connected to the player you are passing to and receiving from.

Progressions:

1.  Two touch limit.

2.  Limit certain players to one touch.

Set Up:

The team in possession can score one point by playing the ball thru a small goal or two points by playing the ball thru a large goal. Two goalkeepers guard the three large goals, and they are free to rotate to any of the goals during play. Players are allowed to run thru the goals, and the game is re-started with a kick in when the ball goes out of play. Games are played to 11 points.

Coaching Points:

1.  Decision Making – When a defender closes down a goal, turn away from that goal and maintain possession.

2.  Changing the Field – When one side of the field closes down, switch the play with a long pass to a player in space.

3.  Transition – Anticipate changes of possession and get moving before your opponent does.

Progressions/Regressions:

Progression 1 – Players must dribble thru the small goals to score one point.

Set Up: 

20 players are set up on a full field, playing 8v8 plus two. The two teams play for twenty minutes with no conditions. After the attacking team scores, they keep the ball and reverse field. But they cannot shoot until they lose the ball and regain possession. Until then, they play keep away. When a goal is scored or the ball is put out of play, the Feeder re-starts play with a pass to the attacking team.

Coaching Points:

1.  Anticipate the change of possession and get moving before your opponent does.

2.  Use the full width of the field and stretch the defense.

3.  Attackers should first look for passes in behind the backs. 

Progressions: 

1.  The neutral players must play along the sideline.

Set Up:

Two teams play on a field a bit smaller than a full field - penalty area width and one end line moved up to the edge of one penalty area. The length of the game is 30-40 minutes and play is continuous, meaning no stoppages by the coaching staff to instruct. If the coach desires, he can use two minutes at the halfway point to water break and to give very brief instructions, something pertaining to the coaching topic for the practice.

The two teams should not let the other team know what formation that they are playing, and they should try to run a formation that is different from that of the other team. Once the game has started, it is up to the players to sort out the other teams' attacking and defending shapes.

Coaching Points:

NONE!

Progressions:

1.  Extend the width of the field out to the sidelines. Allow teams to make changes in positions and/or formations during that short break. 

2.  The coach can move players or groups of players to create the desired match ups. For example, starting back line versus starting strikers.