1v1

We set up around a penalty area, 18yds x 44yds.

Four players are around the 18-yard box as one-touch bounce passers, and inside the space there is one attacker against one defender and goalkeeper. The coach has a number of footballs inside the D, and plays to the forward each time the ball goes out or the goalkeeper catches [1a]. If the defender gains possession, they have three seconds to shield the ball before the next ball is played to the forward. Only the forward can play to the outside for combination passes [1b].

We run this in bursts of one minute.

[1a]

1. Coach delivers to forward (blue player) from the D

[1b]

1. Attacker in the area uses blue player outside the area for one-touch bounce pass

2. Attacker in the area looks to shoot on goal

3. Red player in the area looks to stop the shot

2v2

We then set up in exactly the same way with exactly the same rules [2a], but now with two attackers versus two defenders and one goalkeeper [2b].

We run this in bursts of 90 seconds.

[2a]

1. Coach delivers to forward (blue player) from the D

[2b]

1. Blues look for combinations

2. Blues outside the box are one-touch bounce players

3. Reds defend

4v4 DOUBLE BOX

We set up in double the area, two boxes of 18yds x 44yds, with 2v2 in each penalty box and two wide players in the opponent’s half outside the pitch. Play starts with the goalkeeper throwing to the outside wide player who puts in a two-touch cross, and it then develops into a 2v2 [3a]. If defenders gain possession [3b], they can play to their forwards or wide players off the pitch for another cross or shot [3c]. Always restart with goalkeeper throw to a wide player. Players are restricted to their penalty box.

We run this in bursts of three minutes.

[3a]

1. Working in area of two penalty boxes, both 18yds x 44yds

2. Goalkeeper throws to wide player outside box

3. Wide player puts in two-touch cross

4. Forward looks to score

[3b]

1. Defenders look to win ball

We can then progress to playing with no restrictions on the players remaining within their own boxes, no restrictions on the wide players off the pitch, and with normal offside rules. We can run this in bursts of four minutes.

[3c]

1. Blue defender wins ball

2. Blue defender plays ball out to blue wide player

3. Blue wide player puts in two-touch cross

4. Blue forwards attack