Lexington United Soccer Club Coaches Section
One of the best ways to improve a player’s ability to strike the ball is to have them carry out instep juggling. The exercise provides maximum repetition since it involves one player and one ball. Be sure to ask player to use both feet! Striking the ball … [Read more...]
This is an outstanding warm-up to help program players with a proper skill set to meet the demands of the modern game, movement off the ball, timing of runs, crisp passing, taking a look!, but for the exercise to truly be effective, the coach MUST demand that … [Read more...]
Exercise 1: Dribble, Cut, Pass- The first player in each line (white shirts) dribbles the ball toward the central disc. They MUST cut before the disc and quickly pass the ball to the waiting red player (the white players now follow their pass). The Red players … [Read more...]
Peter Mellor Diamond Exercise Description The Set-up: One Ball, 12 players initially divided into 4 groups of 3 in a Diamond shape. The Exercise: You can play the ball to the first person in any of the other three lines. You must immediately run … [Read more...]
The Set-up: (as pictured) Team is divided in half. One group is in a line approximately 10 yards from a two yard gate that has a single defender. Two balls should be placed a yard or two from the discs. The remaining players should stand next to one of … [Read more...]
German Changing the Point of Attack Circuit Description Set-up: Create a 25x25 grid with a gate in the middle. You can use either corner flags or discs for the gate. Group of 5 or 6 players to maximize repetition. One ball per group. Exercise … [Read more...]
Exercise 1: Divide the team into four groups of three (shown in red & white for clarity purposes, but not necessary) with all players having a ball. The first group of four players start on one line and perform ball taps (could substitute scissors, … [Read more...]
The Set-up: In a 15 yard long x 12 yard wide grid, each group of 4 has one ball. One player in red has the ball, while the other red player starts at the opposite end of the grid with a “passive” white defender on his back. The other white player is … [Read more...]
Exercise 1: Set-up as pictured. Discs should be 10 yards from each other. First 2 players begin by skipping from disc one to disc two, they jog heels to bottom from disc two to disc three, then sprint from disc three to disc four. Slowly jog back to the end … [Read more...]
Note: The players in the top of the picture are showing the warm up in pairs. Set Up: As pictured, 2 players 1 Ball. Server is in the middle the worker is at the outer disc. Work for one minute to 90 seconds and switch roles. Note: The person serving … [Read more...]
Game: Divide team into three groups. Play and follow your pass to the next line. Note: Players shouldn't stand so close to the discs. Ask them to remain a few yards off to the side and slightly behind the disc so their first touch can "clear the space". … [Read more...]
Exercise 1: Two lines of 3 (or 4) facing each other on a diagonal. The first 2players in each line have a ball. They dribble straight out (at the same time) and play a diagonal pass along the ground to the first two players in each line. After playing the ball … [Read more...]
Exercise 1: Manchester United Warm-up (2 balls/3 people) Players should be about 10 yards apart, 20 yards total Rotation: Player A passes the ball to Player B, Player B takes a touch to the side and dribbles to Player A’s position should turn quickly … [Read more...]
Set-Up: Divide team into 3 equal groups (2 balls per group) section the field in 3rds. The Game: All players are numbered 1 to 7, 1 plays to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, etc. 7 plays’ to 1. You can begin with one ball, but should quickly add a 2nd ball, it will … [Read more...]
The Setup: The field should be 12 to 15 yards wide. The inner discs should be 10 to 12 yards from the starting discs. The far disc should be 20 yards from the inside discs. Exercise 1: Player B “checks away” to begin movement. Player A … [Read more...]
Set-up: Create a 15x 15 yard diamond. Groups of 8 to 10 players. Change the target players/ “wall” players every 90 seconds. Change direction of ball movement, playing into the other target will focus on the left foot. Focus: Play and Move. … [Read more...]
Set-up: Half the players with balls, half without. Players without the balls form a circle around the players with the balls. The Exercise: Players with balls dribble freely in the middle of the circle. The coach can ask these players to perform various … [Read more...]
Set-up: 1 ball between 2 people. Players stand about 5 yards apart. The Exercise: The players in white pass the ball to player in red and move to support. The red player “cushions the ball” dropping it back about a yard and back pedal away to keep … [Read more...]
The Set-up: Discs should be 5 yards apart laterally and 10 yards apart horizontally. One ball for every two people. The Exercise: The white players act as servers, the red as workers. White plays an inside of the foot pass to the red player in their … [Read more...]
The Set-up: 6 players in a group with 2 players (B &D) serving as wall passers. One player (C) begins about 20 yards across from the remaining players who form a line behind Player A. Player A has a ball. Note: passes are numbered to make exercise … [Read more...]
The Set-up: 1 ball for 2 players. Create a 10x10 box with different colored discs (use pinnies if you don’t have different colored discs). Two poles or discs should be located 5 yards from the box (as pictured). Coach should have multiple grids set up … [Read more...]
The following exercise was created by Ted Priestly, Men’s Head Coach at the College of the Holy Cross, to provide his players with constant repetition to improve individual technique in a dynamic fashion. Although I observed this session with collegiate … [Read more...]
The Set-up: 3 balls, 4 lines, full team (12 plus players). The box should be approximately 20x20 yards. Note: There will be a lot of movement in this exercise, but it is fairly straight forward once the players get the rhythm sorted out. The upper line … [Read more...]
The Set-Up: In a free space 6 to 8 players with one ball. The Exercise: The players move freely throughout the area. When the ball is played to a person, they must take a touch that is big enough that it would take them “past pressure” from a … [Read more...]
The Set-up: 10 x 10 grid (coach can adjust depending on players ability), divide team into two groups of 8, coach has several balls. The Exercise: One team of 8 begins inside the grid. Their goal is to maintain possession for as long as possible. … [Read more...]
The Set-Up: 3 to 4 players in each line, with at least 2 balls per line. 10x10 inner box with an outside box that is paced off (8 to 10 yds.) at an angle from the inner box. Note: All groups should be participating at the same time. Exercise 1: Dribble … [Read more...]
The Game: Half of players in the group have a ball and half do not. If you do not have a ball you need to steal one from someone who does. If ball goes out of bounds, person who touched it last does not get possession. Focus: You can teach players the … [Read more...]
Players in Red dribble the ball freely while players in White jog, skip, knees up, heels up. Switch Roles after 60 to 90 seconds! Variation 1: Players in Red dribble freely, but when coach shouts a command they must perform a move and change their … [Read more...]
Exercise 1: Player passes the ball to teammate and runs to the end of the opposite line. Line should be between 5 to 10 yards apart. Play one or two touch depending on ability. Focus: Inside of foot passing "Toe up, ankle locked", change of pace -run to … [Read more...]
Exercise 1: Dribble through the gates. Go for 60 to 90 seconds. Ask players how many times they went through a gate. You can ask them to use just there right foot, left foot, outside of foot, etc. Repeat at least 2 times prior to moving on. “Can … [Read more...]
Set-up: 25 x 25yd grid inside a 35 x 35 grid The Game: Players dribble throughout the inner grid. The coach can use this free dribble segment to offer several options. When the coach yells: Turn- players must change direction Step-over- … [Read more...]
Note: Coach should have the players jog through the circuit without the ball a couple of times to get used to the movements. 2nd player in line shouldn’t begin his/her movement until the 1st person as reached the second disc. 1st Exercise (left): … [Read more...]
Work to Rest: 1 minute to 2 minutes. You can do each exercise twice. Stress technique than speed. "Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent." Exercise 1: 2 servers with ball one worker without. Servers play ball to the workers … [Read more...]
The Game: All players with the exception of two have a ball. They dribble in the box protecting their ball from the white players. White attempts to knock all balls out of the area as quickly as possible. Note: When a red players’ ball gets knocked … [Read more...]
The Set-up: create a diamond with discs about 8 to 10 yards apart. Each player has a ball and stand approximately a yard behind the disc. The Exercise: When the coach yells Go! Players accelerate with the ball to the next disc. Coach can ask the … [Read more...]
Set-up: (as pictured) a rectangle 20yds long about 12yds wide. Have a disc designating the halfway point of the rectangle. The orange cones are approximately two yards wide. The green discs are there to serve as the staring point for each line. The … [Read more...]
The Game: Players stand about 10 to 12 yards apart with a disc halfway between them. They try to pass the ball at the disc. They get a point every time they are successful. Play games for 2 minutes and than have the winners move toward the coach, the … [Read more...]
The Game: Players stand about 7 to 10 yards apart. They try to pass the ball through their partners’ legs. They get a point every time they are successful. Play games for 2 minutes and than have the winners move toward the coach, the loser moves in the … [Read more...]
The Game: Divide the team into two groups (red & white) with all players having a ball. The red’s face one direction while the white’s face the other. When the coach yells Go! Both groups dribble quickly to the line they are facing, do a quick … [Read more...]
The Set-Up: Coach should set up a couple of 12x12 grids. 4 to 6 players, all with a ball, should be in each grid. Coach should stand in a position where he/she can observe all the players. Knockout: Players dribble their ball while trying to knock other … [Read more...]
