Set-up: Divide the team into 3 equal lines. The top line (red) has balls. The second line (white w/blue) is next to the red without balls, and the third line (grey) is on the end-line between the goals without balls.

Note: The players do not need to be in different colors, but it helps clarify the exercise.

First Movement: The Red player dribbles at speed straight forward onto the field. The White player serves as a passive defender (Does not try to win the ball!). When the white player moves past the red player, the red player should cut the ball back. Ex. Cruyff Move, outside chop, inside chop, etc.

Cut Back, Enter into Target w/ Return Pass

Second Movement: Once the red player cuts the ball back past the passive defender, he or she must immediately enter the ball into the target (grey). Grey returns the ball directly (one or two touches) to the red player.

Focus:

• Quick Turn
• Head Up
• Hard, accurate pass

“Live 1v1” Ensues

Third Movement: After the return pass, Grey immediately closes down the red player and a live 1v1 ensues. If grey wins the ball, he or she should counter to the opposite pug goals.

Focus:

• 1v1 Attacking
• 1v1 Defending
• Transition

Progression to 2v1

The Set-up: Divide the team into 4 equal lines (2 red/2 white). The top line (red) has balls. The second line (white) is next to the red without balls, a second red line and a second white line take up positions on the end-line between the goals without balls.

Note: Having a clear delineation of colors is now helpful to the exercise.

First Movement: The Red player dribbles at speed straight forward onto the field. The White player serves as a passive defender (Does not try to win the ball!). When the white player moves past the red player, the red player should cut the ball back. Ex. Cruyff Move, outside chop, inside chop.

Entry into Target w/ “live 2v1”

Second Movement: Once the red player cuts the ball back past the passive defender and gets his/her head up, the second Red player releases from the end-line (checks back to the ball) to serve as a target. The White player on the end-line quickly trails the red player, but MUST remain goal side. The red player on the ball must enter the ball into his/her teammate and a “live” 2v1 ensues.

Note: One coach should position him/herself to enforce off-sides.

Focus: Quick Turn, Head Up, Timing of Runs, Proper Entry Pass, Angles of Support, Defending Numbers Down

Live 2v2 Ensues upon Entry into the Target

Final Progression: The same exercise as above, but now the coach can allow the passive defender to become active once the ball has been entered into the target player.

Rotation: Allow players to rotate within their own teams lines freely (Red with Red, White with White), but after 5 minutes have teams switch roles.

The Set-up: Divide the team into two equal groups (red and white). The first Red player starts with the ball and can score in the goal diagonally across from his/her line, but must be in the shooting zone for a goal to count. The Game: The first red player attacks the diagonal goal with the dribble. Once he/she touches the ball, the first white player moves out to defend. Red can continue to attack 1v1, but if white recovers quickly, red can turn and play back to a teammate, creating a 2v1. In the 2v1, Red can score in either goal. Note: the coaches should position themselves as in the diagram. One coach can enforce the off-sides law in the 2v1 situation, the other can serve as a target for the white defender to play into when he/she wins the ball. Focus:

• Attacking at speed with the dribble
• Sealing the defender off with the dribble (get across his/her body)
• Recovery runs
• Decision making
• 2v1 Attacking
• 1v2 Defending

Rotation: Switch roles after 4 minutes. Allow each team to attack and defend twice.

The Set-up: Create a 12×12 diamond and place a single disc in the middle. Have 3 to 4 players in each line facing the central disc. Place 4 goals (any size) a few yards beyond each line of players.

The Exercise: The first two red players jog into the middle and step left, cut right and accelerate to the opposite line. The first two white players should move into the area once the red players have cleared.

Note: Be sure to change directions (step right, cut left)

Focus: Explosive Cut, Drop the shoulder & Acceleration away

Variation: Extended pause on the cut

DRIBBLING PHASE

The Set-up: The same, but now all players have a ball.

The Exercise: The first two white players dribble into the middle and step left, cut right, accelerate and shoot the ball into the net before joining the opposite line. The first two red players should move into the area once the white players have cleared the middle disc.

Focus: Explosive Cut & Change of pace (acceleration) & Accurate finish

TURNING PHASE

The Exercise: The first two white players dribble into the middle and step left, cut right, accelerate away before reversing directions (quick turn) and accelerating back to their own goal and shooting the ball into the net before joining their original line. The first two red players should move into the area once the white players have cleared the middle disc for the second time.

Focus: Explosive Cut, Change of pace, “Taking a look”, Turning, and Accurate finish.

COMBINATION PHASE

The Exercise: The first two red players dribble into the middle and step left, cut right, accelerate away before reversing directions and passing to and moving to support the first player in their own line (the first player in line should step away from their own ball and “make themselves available” to their teammate). The ball should be dropped back to the original dribbler who finishes into the net as quickly as possible before joining their original line. The first two white players should move into the area once the red players have combined.

Focus: Explosive Cut, Change of pace, “Taking a look”, Turning, Combination Play and Accurate finish.

The Set-up: In a 10×10 box with a cone/disc placed in the center, divide 12 players into 4 groups of 3 with one ball per group. Two players from each group stand at the outer discs with one ball between them. The third player works as the defender.

The Exercise: The players on the outside pass the ball back and forth using two touches. The defender works on closing the space, moving at angles- dropping off & taking space, keeping sight of the ball, remaining in a good defensive position.

Note: The defender moves at full speed, but does not attempt to win the ball.

Rotate: Change defender every 60 to 90 seconds.

The players are divided by color to help clarify the diagram, but it isn’t necessary to do so for this particular exercise.

Mistake! The defender at the top of the diagram is tracking the ball laterally. This is an incorrect movement and should be corrected.

The Exercise: The players on the outside continue to pass the ball back and forth using two touches. The defender works on closing the space, moving at angles- dropping off & taking space, keeping sight of the ball, remaining in a good defensive position, but now when the coach says GO! (or whistles), the defenders quickly move across to defend the ball in the area that was directly behind them. Example, Red switches to defend the whites, white the reds.

Added Focus of Quick reaction & closing speed over greater distance.

Rotate: Change defender every 60 to 90 seconds.

Variation: Have the defenders move clockwise or counterclockwise on coaches command.

The Set-up: Field should be 40 yards long x 25 yards wide.Place 4 balls on top of discs a few yards past each end-line.

The Game: Two equal numbered teams (6v6 pictured) play a “live” game where they try to knock the balls off the opposing team’s disc.White attacks one direction, red the other direction (like a game).No player can defend past their own end-line.

Focus: 

• Looking to penetrate with a forward pass.
• Crisp ball movement.
• Accurate passing into the target (the balls on the discs).

Play games to 5 (reset the ball each time it gets knocked off the disc)

Variation: Play a game until one team knocks all the opponents balls off the disc. (don’t reset the balls). This will become increasingly more difficult since there will be less area to defend each time a goal is scored.

The Set-up:  On a 30 x 15 yard field, set up two mini-goals on the end-lines. Place 4 starting cones a few yards beside the goals and a 5^th cone as pictured. Divide players into two teams.

The Game:  Player A dribbles on the field at speed. Once he enters the attacking half of the field he shoots into the mini-goal.  Once A shoots, players B, C, and D enter the field. Player C enters with a ball. Player A must sprint around the 5^th disc before he can help his teammate defend. A Live 2v1 with a recovery player takes place.  The game continues until a goal is scored or the ball goes out of bounds.

Rotation:  After 4 minutes have teams switch roles.

Coerver Explosive 1v1

Activity Description

The Game:  The red player dribbles straight across, as he/she nears the disc (2 to 3 yards away) he steps on the ball and must sprint around the disc before he can defend.  The white player runs onto the ball immediately after the red player stops it. The white line should be about 5 yards away from where the red will stop the ball. 

Attackers must enter the shooting zone to score.  They can attack either goal.  Switch lines after each attack.

Focus:  

• The white attacker should “run with the ball” (attack at speed)
• The red defender must recover at speed.
• Finishing at Speed

If the defender does recover, can the attacker use the defenders momentum to his advantage by cutting across his body and attack the other goal? 

Shooting with Precision

Activity Description

The Set-up:  same as initial exercise, but now two balls are placed on discs a yard in front of each pugg goal.

The Game:  Same as initial exercise, but now the attacker must shoot his or her ball at the ball placed on the disc knocking it into the goal.  This will force a more precise shot from the attacker.    Coach can either call Go! to start the activity or ask the next player in line with the ball at their feet to start his/her dribble once a shot has been taken.

First Time Entry

Activity Description

The Game:  The red player dribbles straight across, as he/she nears the disc (2 to 3 yards away) he steps on the ball and must sprint around the disc before he can defend.  The white player runs onto the ball and passes the ball to the coach first time “one touch”.  White should carry on forward to support the pass.  Coach will slip the ball back into the path of the white player and a 1v1 ensues.

Attackers must enter the shooting zone to score.  They can attack either goal.  Switch lines after each attack.

Focus: 

• Pace of the pass
• Proper Movement of the supporting run (show away from the recovering defender!).
• Speed of Attack (pass, dribble, finish)
• Decision Making
• Fitness

Note:  More 1v1 battles will ensue now that the pass has been added into the activity.

[Download a pdf version]

• Change of direction
• Decision making
• Movement off the ball
• Sealing off a defender (dribbling through the gate mirrors this movement)
• Fitness

Variation:  Same as initial exercise, but take away the gates in front of the goals.  This will make it easier to score.

The Set-up: 

The Game:  Both teams can score in any of the 4 goals, but the players Must pass to a teammate through the gate prior to scoring.

Focus: 

• Change of direction
• Decision making
• Movement off the ball (supporting runs)
• Teamwork
• Spacing (don’t crowd your teammate on the ball)
• Fitness

Variation:  Players can only score first time (one touch). This will promote better timing of runs to the weak side of the gate.

Description

The Set-up/Exercise: Play in the Center circle or a similar space (10×10 circumference). Goals should be approximately 3 yards wide.

A 3v3 (or 4v4) game takes place inside the circle with one player from each team standing behind their gate/goal with extra balls to act as a server. The remaining players spread themselves out around the circle to serve as boundary players for their team.

Rule: Boundary players are a maximum of two touches.

Note: You do not need to use the boundary players to score, but they give you a numerical advantage to keep possession of the ball.

If a goal is scored, example red scores (pictured above), the red team quickly moves to take up positions to receive the ball from their server/teammate. The white team must quickly regroup and defend against another attack. (3rd diagram).

Note: The server is a very important member to the team. If they are alert and accurate with their passing they can create great opportunities for their teammates to score quickly before the opponent gets reorganized.

Rotation:

• Play games to 3 with the winning team staying on!
• Rotate the server after each game.

Important- The server is not a goalie! They are positioned behind the gate not in it.

Focus:

• Playing in tight spaces
• Combination play
• Quick Transitions

Download this exercise [Penn State Circle – pdf] ]]>