by Roberto Di Matteo in Attacking
This session improves and develops attacking balance when going forward.
Often we have to switch play or break out at pace, and it’s important that we retain structure and don’t become one-dimensional. To help achieve this we adopt our club philosophy of utilising the full width of the pitch when attacking. We will practise this in training in the same way that we construct it in a match situation, ensuring that players understand how and when to move the ball from one side of the pitch to the other. MORE
by Mick Wadsworth in Attacking
At any level, the ability to attack the opposition with quick, positive forward play can yield terrific rewards.
This session requires determined and aggressive forward movement and clever passing, and the key is to always be moving forwards or sideways – so never backwards, and never remaining stationery. If players follow this simple blueprint, we, as a team, have the makings of fast, invasive attacks, which are so dangerous. MORE
by Martin Ling in Defending
This session examines defending in the final third, specifically through the organisation and movement of the back four. While we focus on the defence, it’s important that all players on the pitch know their jobs and are prepared for all eventualities. This is an important session for us and comes with a number of variations... MORE
by Aidy Boothroyd in Skills and Techniques
The best teams are those that recognise the space pressed and left by opponents, and the best players are those who know whether to play in front of, to the side of, in between or behind an opponent.
This session is therefore set up to develop good decision-making, and also helps players gain a better understanding and appreciation of spacial awareness when in possession of the ball. MORE
by Nigel Clough in Attacking
This session is about maximising space so as to be able to switch the ball quickly in creating positive attacking options. And at the heart of this is helping players recognise when to play forward and when to switch play.
It’s important to practise this because moving the ball quickly with both short and long passes gives us the chance to create 1v1 situations or overloads, which are key situations for exploiting the opposition.
Keeping possession under pressure and knowing when to switch is a major part of our style of play. For that reason, we’ll work on this type of session frequently. MORE
by Jamie Hoyland in Defending
This session is all about defensive positions. It looks at how players should act when the opposing team has the ball, working firstly with units and then with all of the team together.
It’s important to practise this in order to retain defensive shape when out of possession. Players need to look at which side to show, which side to mark, as well as assessing defensive distances and planning how to win the ball back.
This is relevant to every match we play in, and we practise the session each week. MORE
by Owen Coyle in Attacking
Being able to quickly, efficiently and, at times, discretely change the point of attack is crucial for any team. The goal of this session is therefore to demonstrate the different ways the ball can be transitioned from one side of the field to the other, as well as highlighting what types of passes and movements... MORE
by Keith Hill in Skills and Techniques
This session is imperative for reminding our lads that, in any game, possession is king, with players under pressure to regain and retain possession when outnumbered. At the heart of this is looking for a ‘sacrificial press’ in recovering possession quickly, then looking to retain the ball in what we call the ‘five-yard pass’. It’s... MORE
by Ian Holloway in Attacking, Defending
We’re looking for attackers to fashion goalscoring opportunities both when in and out of possession, while defenders must concentrate on defensive compactness, discipline and communication. This resilience is a feature of every successful team, and being able to penetrate this line effectively on a consistent basis is central to winning football matches. MORE
by Carlo Ancelotti in Attacking
This session focuses on attacking play and, in particular, the use of overlaps to create and exploit space, a fundamental principle of attacking football. Ultimately, a team can go through, round or over the opposition’s defence in the process of scoring or making an attempt on goal. MORE
by Paul Lambert in Attacking
This session is about attacking players improving their decision-making and movement, and helps them build advanced understanding of how to create goalscoring opportunities around the box. MORE
by Ian Baraclough in Attacking
This session is designed to increase player awareness in moving the ball quickly and efficiently so as to produce 1v1 situations or overloads in attack. MORE
by Darren Ferguson in Formations and Tactics
The 3-5-2 formation remains hugely popular in modern football, though with so many teams becoming smart to its threat, we need players to be adept and precise in their execution of the set-up if it is to continue to reap rewards. MORE
by Wayne Attard in Attacking
I love this session because, unapologetically, it’s about scoring goals! Of course strikers are intensely involved, but there’s also plenty of encouragement placed on midfielders to shoot from distance whenever they get the opportunity. MORE
by Gary Owers in Attacking
This session is about quick combination play in and around the box with the emphasis on a positive end product, be that a cross, a shot or a goal. MORE
by Kevin Bond in Attacking, Defending
This is a general session that is made up of various practices that I like to run with teams at training on a regular basis in order to form good habits. MORE
by Dean Smith in Midfield
This session is designed to encourage attacking midfielders and wide players to make deep runs in behind the opposition defenders. MORE
by Brendan Rodgers in Attacking
It’s an engaging session for the players because it’s about creating and scoring goals and that’s what players love to do. It’s an attacking theme, based on expression and creativity with combination play, so players really enjoy it. MORE
by Tanya Oxtoby in Defending
This session is about players developing their decision-making skills by executing our defending principles at the right times and in the right areas. It incorporates 1v1 defending, reading cues and triggers, making play predictable, and winning the ball back in the first, second or third lines. MORE
by Paul Heckingbottom in Defending
This session is all about building the defensive role of every position when out of possession. It starts with individuals defending in 1v1 and 3v2 situations and builds all the way through the units to whole team defending when out of possession. I like this session because all the problems posed to players are realistic to game situations. MORE
by Nigel Clough in Attacking, Defending
This session focuses on the techniques of attacking and defending in and around the penalty area, giving players the opportunity to rehearse not only counter-attacking situations, but to attack and defend crosses from deep and from the by-line. It is a high intensity session that involves plenty of running and lots of accelerations and decelerations. MORE
by Chris Beech in Attacking
This training session is all about creating overloads in tight spaces when in possession. Three is the magic number here and this session encourages players to use the three-player support system to create overloads.
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by Derek Egan in Defending
This training session is focused on making the three centre backs understand the four D’s – that they should delay, deny, dictate and defend when outnumbered. The practices create numerous occasions when players are exposed to stressful situations that are related to the area of the pitch in which they play and that are realistic to the game. MORE
by Tony Carr in Skills and Techniques
This session is about encouraging players to receive the ball with the back foot and developing movement through deliberate practice. MORE
by Michael Duff in Attacking
This session is all about breaking lines in possession. Due to the way we play, our players need to be able to understand when to switch the play and when to split the opposition, all with the aim of penetrating opponents and allowing us to play forwards.
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by Ralph Hasenhüttl in Skills and Techniques
The focus of this session incorporates a number of my key principles: pressing, counter pressing and playing in tight areas whilst avoiding pressure. It’s about keeping possession in tight areas and then playing away from pressure, helping us to switch the play quickly. MORE
by Joe Montemurro in Attacking
This session is about identifying opportunities to play forwards in central areas. It shows players how to create central overloads and encourages them to face forward to play forward effectively. The session is designed to help players recognise certain cues, such as when to invite pressure in order to create space further up the pitch and this helps to set up goal scoring opportunities. MORE
by Carlos Carvalhal in Midfield
The role of the centre-midfielder is a vital one in modern soccer and his effectiveness and resourcefulness is best practised with regular repetition of technique and job role. This is a session I first outlined when with Besiktas back in 2011, but so solid and reliable is the role of the midfielder that it is... MORE
by Daniel Farke in Formations and Tactics
This session involves many important topics from our football philosophy, such as possession and transition after winning or losing the ball in narrow spaces. The players are encouraged to perform the activities at their highest levels of intensity, which is important because it gives them the ideal load. MORE
by Dave Jones in Attacking
This is an all-round session for all players – strikers, midfielders, wide players, full-backs, defenders and goalkeepers – and uses the basis of attackers having three separate attempts on goal. I like this session because it can be adapted for any formation, and has the important feature of an end product – namely goals being... MORE
by Steve McClaren in Attacking
This session is about counter-attacking, transitioning, and players rotating in their positions. It relies on good link-up play and positive attacking, combining fast-paced and measured attacks on goal. Defenders benefit from dealing with overloads in this session, which we always find important to practise, given that there are 200 turnovers per team in each game.... MORE
by Josh Brehaut in Attacking
This session is focused on starting attacks from inside the defensive third of the pitch, specifically when playing against a front three that presses high with wide forwards once the centre backs have split. It’s a session that helps the players to see pictures that replicate situations in the 11v11 game. MORE
by Neil Ardley in Skills and Techniques
This session is about managing moments in games when you’re on top or under pressure, and is designed to show that, if your transitions are good, you have a chance. This is a session that can be done at any time of the week; however, it can be adapted as 4x4min games up to 4x8min... MORE
by Matt Murray in Skills and Techniques
Although this session is predominantly about transitions, it pays particular attention to pressing, making play predictable, communication, work to be done when in possession, and how to hurt the opposition with patience or a killer pass. What makes the session engaging is that it progresses through a number of different practices, each focusing on lots... MORE
by Ben Garner in Defending
Defending against the counter-attack and reacting quickly to these transitions of play is important. That’s because in the modern era, once teams win possession they are capable of breaking forward at great speed and with real quality. The ability to make the correct countering defensive decisions is a core part of being a successful defender.... MORE
by John Still in Defending
In this session, we try to give players an understanding of their roles and responsibilities in defensive zones in and around the box – this includes defending individually and as a back four unit. We also look at covering, team balance, and the ability to support. It’s important to practise this because, more than anywhere... MORE
by Chris Powell in Defending
This is a session focused on defending against a particular formation. It is aimed at stopping a team that plans to attack in a 4-2-3-1 set-up. When facing a team who have the ability to pass through you or exploit spaces with their running on the ball, being unbalanced in your shape and not closing... MORE
by Jimmy Bell in Defending
This session is looks at defensive structure – movement from side to side, pressure on the ball and cover from supporting players. Good defensive organisation is obviously called upon throughout matches, so these are principles that must always be practised. We believe that the unity of defenders and a shared knowledge of how to deal... MORE
by Keith Hill in Defending
This session is about defending the 18-yard box when in control and when in states of ‘chaos’. It’s a great practice that improves both individuals and collective units, and instills rare fundamentals of the art of defending the red zone/danger zone (or 18-yard box). The reason I like this session so much is because the... MORE
by Alan Irvine in Attacking
This session is about developing blind side runs in the final third in order to break the last line of defence. It’s important to practise this because goals are scored at the highest level as a result of blind side runs. In this session, the first practice was designed to recreate the goal scored by... MORE
by Chris Davies in Attacking
This session takes the form of a number of progressive exercises, each designed to develop players’ ability to progress the ball through the pitch. The idea is to create overloads because without them the game can become dependent on 1v1s, and that can mean it’s difficult to progress the ball unless you are far superior... MORE
by Alex Morris in Defending
This session places an emphasis on midfield units staying compact and being hard to penetrate when out of possession. I like to run this because although it is midfield weighted, it strongly focuses on defensive ideas, which is important because defending is traditionally a less appealing topic in the minds of players. The introduction of... MORE
by Andy Scott in Defending
This session is about defending as a group or unit. It looks at the relationships between players and teaches them how to use recovery moves to maximum advantage. Recovering quickly and early lays the foundation for a sound defensive platform, something upon which all successful sides are built. At Brentford, we will work on this... MORE
by Manuel Pellegrini in Attacking
This session is all about changing the point of attack and switching play in counter-attacking situations. It will help the team get out of trouble when they’re being pressed, allowing them to turn pressured situations into quick counter-attacks. To make this tactic effective, teams must be well organised when attacking. By repeating these practices, the... MORE
by Jimmy Bell in Attacking
This is a possession session that develops into a finishing challenge. It requires high tempo throughout and lots of legwork from players. At every club I’ve worked at there has always been real attention paid to the core principles of possession and work rate. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing the principles learned from... MORE
by Nigel Worthington in Attacking
This is a game that practises shooting by restricting the playing area that players operate in. It requires pure attacking intent from players who must shoot on sight and be positive in everything they do. By narrowing the area players’ minds are subconsciously focused in on the goal, and we look for them to apply... MORE
by Martin Allen in Attacking
I always instill in my strikers the difference between shooting and finishing. We see shooting in every game – a chance comes along and the forward puts his laces through the ball. But finishing is very different and much more valuable, particularly in the modern game where the number of clear-cut chances that develop in... MORE
by Kevin Nicholson in Set pieces
This session looks at maximising the potential of scoring goals from free-kicks. It does this by looking at ways of working the ball into the penalty box through intelligent and innovative routines, instead of continually shooting direct from outside of the box. The session provides a variety of free-kick routines that involve thoughtful, clever and... MORE
by Steve Foley in Attacking
This session is based around a series of possession-based practices that are aimed at breaking the lines to move forwards when possible. It involves lots of varied passing techniques and good decision making. It also begins with a warm-up that is relevant to the topic, one that will prepare the players for the activities that... MORE
by Iain Dowie in Defending
This overview session is about the responsibilities of the back four, and how they use distance, movement and angles in order to produce a formidable defensive unit. This is an important session for improving confidence, because a proficient defensive base acts as a springboard for the whole team, not least in a side’s ability to counter-attack... MORE
by Dougie Freedman in Attacking
This session is about forward runs and the ability of players to work at pace, supporting from deep or getting beyond a front striker to attack danger areas. For teams looking to build attacking play, intelligent forward running is essential, as is the timing and execution of those breaks. Players must also work to vary... MORE
by Ian Holloway in Skills and Techniques
This multifunctional, directional session is about game-realistic play, positive moves and developing short and long passes. It is important to practise this because possession is key at any level of the game, but particularly in the Premier League where sides can be so ruthless when they have the ball. This session encourages players to receive... MORE
by Anthony Hudson in Skills and Techniques
This is a broad training session that enables players to practise a range of skills across multiple exercises. It rehearses ball skills in terms of tidy, quick and intelligent passing, plus finishing in and around the box. It’s also excellent for movement, closing down and positional awareness. These ranges of skills are essential for any... MORE
by Jose Gomes in Attacking
This exercise is about attacking and counter-attacking. On one hand it’s about the patience of a steady attacking build-up versus good defensive organization, while on the other hand it deals with quick defensive positioning when faced with a counter-attack. The idea is that the players are able to use both ways of attacking, depending on... MORE
by Miguel Cardoso in Defending
This session is all about the transition to defence. What do we want our team to do when we lose the ball and how do we expect our players to react? These are key questions to be answered when we think about setting principles for this moment of the game. We want players to take... MORE
by Terry Skiverton in Attacking
This session is based on a small-sided game with overloads producing overlapping attacking play. It’s a great session for attackers and defenders and is played at high intensity, because this promotes a competitive edge in training. The tight playing area is good for concentration levels, with strikers encouraged to work for angles and develop proficient... MORE
by Mauricio Pochettino in Defending
This session coaches players on understanding defensive pressing. It’s important to practise the key elements to identify how, when and where we can apply pressing technique, and that includes adopting the right shape tactically and togetherness of the group, as well as being able to identify the right moment to closedown. We see the benefits... MORE
by Steve Tilson in Skills and Techniques
This session works on players’ ability to play one-two passing moves in order to create space and to get in behind the opposition’s defence. The practice is comprised of initial unopposed passing drills which familiarise players with movement, awareness and link-up play, before progressing onto a competitive 8v8 game. The entire session lasts 75 minutes... MORE
by Willy Donachie in Formations and Tactics
This session teaches players to stay positive and aware in game situations, with a focus on moving play forward at all times. It encourages players to think about what’s ahead of and around them and relies on a good first touch and the use of clever angled passes. In the Premier League, the better the... MORE
by Paul Buckle in Skills and Techniques
The passing diamond is a coaching move that, while simple in its set-up, is crucial for players in rehearsing passing accuracy and tempo. It is also important for general ball work and encouraging the use of both feet. Modern day football is built upon a constant passing game, so the ability to conduct simple and... MORE
by Les Parry in Set pieces
This is a set-piece corner kick routine that relies on a quality ball into the box and the intelligent movement of attacking players. Set plays provide great opportunities for scoring goals because the ball is stationary, players cannot be tackled and they have the freedom to work space knowing where they can expect a delivery... MORE
by Paul Lambert in Attacking
At Norwich City, we believe that you have to train the way you play, and this is a positive crossing and finishing routine that is direct and makes players adopt good habits. Crossing and finishing are fundamental elements for scoring goals and winning games. This rehearsed set-up of crossing with pace and timing, combined with... MORE
by Steve Foley in Attacking
In the modern game, penalty boxes are tight, congested areas to work in and around. This session helps players practise elements of quick approach play, strong and dedicated support, along with the ability to dispatch immediate shots on goal. Individual skills are important, so we’ll encourage player traits such as subtle flicks or quick directional... MORE
by Paul Simpson in Defending
This session is all about making sure the defensive unit is organised. A strong, intelligent defence is crucial for keeping clean sheets, and achieving that aim is halfway towards winning matches. No matter who the opposition is, there will come a time in every game when the back four will be asked the toughest of... MORE
by Keith Hill in Attacking
Analysis at the end of our 2008/09 League Two campaign showed we needed to develop a new collective responsibility to defend against the counter-attack. We knew this would increase our potential to keep clean sheets whilst also ensuring that we had players in good areas of the pitch in order to regain and maintain possession.... MORE
by Dario Gradi in Defending
Use this session to get your team working defensively… as individuals, as pairs, as a back four, and as an entire team. MORE
by Stephen Constantine in Attacking
With this session we can get everyone in the team involved in thinking about how can we get the ball forwards as quickly and as efficiently as possible. We want quality and speed in all areas and an end product – ideally a goal. In order for this to happen everyone needs to understand their... MORE
by Neil Howarth in Attacking
I have used this session in the past when coaching teams that are struggling to score goals or create chances in matches – particularly when finding it difficult to break down a well-organised defence. Quite often it has been used prior to a home match when we are expected to have a lot of possession... MORE
by Ricky Sbragia in Skills and Techniques
Movement, support and running off the ball is essential in the modern game, and fine-tuning these abilities in players can really enhance attacking options throughout the team. Therefore, this unopposed drill is designed to examine receiving, touch, lay-off, link-up play and third-man running, so that players can work together in tight areas to maximum effect.... MORE
by Mikey Harris in Attacking
This is a high intensity session that works on improving player sharpness in and around the penalty box, arguably the most important area of the pitch and one where games are won or lost. It’s a finishing session but it is as much of a defending practice for the team out of possession. For the... MORE
by Luke Williams in Skills and Techniques
This session examines when to play short and long. It’s a set-up that, despite its simplicity, addresses a key question that a player needs to ask himself every time he gets the ball, so is actually a mental principle that it’s vital to practise. And whilst it’s not an original question, the way we search... MORE
by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in Attacking
This session is about developing the ability to attack at speed with immediate forward passing and forward running, combined with the ability to build controlled attacks against a set defensive structure. MORE
by Gabriele Cioffi in Formations and Tactics
This session is focussed on preparing players for an upcoming opponent, specifically with regard to getting them to understand their options for playing out from the goalkeeper against the exact formation they are likely to encounter. It also prepares them to play against the opposition when outnumbered in certain areas of the pitch. I like... MORE
by Andrew Sparkes in Goalkeeping
This is a functional shot stopping session that starts using just the goalkeepers and the goalkeeping coach and it then progresses into a broader session and a small-sided game with the outfield players. The integration of the outfield players makes the session more match realistic and it will enhance the goalkeeper’s decision making in game... MORE
by Aaron Callaghan in Attacking
This session is about quick play going forward. Initially in the main practice the three attackers are faced with one defender and have to make the right decision about when and where to pass the ball in relation to the defender’s positioning. As the session progresses, attackers play against two defenders and then three. We... MORE
by Tony Mowbray in Formations and Tactics
This session is focused on creating opportunities from possession. Every team should work on their ability to maintain and exploit possession because, when harnessed to attacking intent, keeping hold of the ball is the best way to break down defences and create goal-scoring chances. This kind of play greatly increases a team’s chances of winning... MORE
by Steven Pressley in Skills and Techniques
This session is about short, sharp passing and use of possession. We use tight areas to improve players’ footwork and put demands on them to be able to work the ball with confidence, while those out of possession must close down with intensity. We believe this session has everything players need and want. The lead-up... MORE
by Andy Thorn in Defending
This session is about the back four working as a unit. It looks for them to clear the ball past a target when dealing with a range of deliveries from different areas of the pitch. It’s important to practise this because in the last 10-15 minutes of close games, opposition teams looking for a goal... MORE
by Danny Cowley in Defending
This session is aimed at influencing player behaviour on the loss of possession. We work very hard to affect player behaviour in the transition from attack to defence, as the counter-press is an important feature of our playing style. We aim to be a high energy, hyper mobile team. We see giving the ball away... MORE
by Tony Mowbray in Skills and Techniques
This session is about retaining and developing possession, plus switching play. It relies on smart decision making as well as excellent movement and communication between players. This is an important practice for us because, in match situations, main-taining possession is vital. Doing so not only aids the creation of chances, but it serves to wear... MORE
by John Sheridan in Defending
This session is about the reactions and movements of defensive players. It looks primarily at the role of the back four in squeezing up and condensing play as they would do in a match day situation, yet also checks on how players in other areas need to adapt their movements so as to protect the... MORE
by Andy Quy in Goalkeeping
This is a session for goalkeepers that teaches and rehearses dealing with crosses, both opposed and unopposed, and in the context of a small-sided game. The ability to manage balls crossed in from the wings is one of the most important parts of a goalkeeper’s game. It relies specifically on positioning, technique and good decision-making.... MORE
by David Wagner in Skills and Techniques
This is a reactive pressure and possession game that coaches players in the basics of team mechanics – namely keeping the ball, exploiting opposition mistakes and looking for an end goal or product. Although basic in its delivery, these principles are vital for every side, and this is the sort of practice you will see... MORE
by Bobby Davison in Attacking, Defending
This session incorporates the key elements of both attacking and defending at pace. From the time spent coaching Ferencvaros in Hungary through to my involvement in the England Under-19 set-up, developing an individual’s skills through passing, creating space, supporting, closing down, tracking and counter-attacking has always gone on to be of huge benefit to the... MORE
by Lee Johnson in Defending
The purpose of this session is to assess and coach the specific roles of the defensive unit, to include defensive protocols, communication and recognising triggers. It’s a session pivotal to how we organise our defensive thinking at Barnsley, and although it is specific to our back four, it is introduced in the context of the... MORE
by Mark Sampson in Defending
With this session, we are looking to develop the player’s decision-making ability and the execution of his/her actions in the moment that possession is turned over. Working with the players to understand the importance of balance, both in attack and defence, are consistent themes for us as a group. A key aspect of our balance... MORE
by Steven Gerrard in Attacking
This session is designed to improve player and team awareness within the game. The specific awareness we are looking to improve is how to read an opponent’s defensive block and identify the space to attack. MORE
by Terry Butcher in Formations and Tactics
This is the kind of training session I run with my teams in the build up to a match. It helps to rehearse the formation and shape we are going to use and it also introduces the shape and tactics that we expect our opponents to employ. Tactics are not always set in stone and... MORE
by Paul Buckle in Defending
This is a simple defensive session that encourages players to press high and press aggressively. It also conditions players to respond with speed to a successful turnover of possession, resulting in quick counter-attacks. The players really enjoy this session, as it’s fast and intense and it relies on quick reactions. When their team is in... MORE
by Micky Mellon in Attacking, Defending
This session is about attacking and defending transitions, focusing on the key moments when the ball changes hands. We work on how we can defend and exploit these most exciting and important phases of the game, either by building a fast attack with the support of the full backs or by playing the ball early... MORE
by Nathan Jones in Defending
This session is all about teaching players when to press and when to drop as a defensive unit and it encourages them to identify and respond to the visual triggers shown by their opponents. As a practice, it allows for the consistent repetition of the key triggers but within varied circumstances, helping players to quickly... MORE
by Graham Alexander in Attacking
This session is mainly for attacking players but remains important for defenders who can take something from it as well. It’s ideally an afternoon session – 45 minutes maximum – focusing on producing an ‘end product’ to an attack. Individuals need to be good at what they are judged on and scoring goals is vital... MORE
by Gary Waddock in Attacking
The more possession the team has, the more goalscoring opportunities they create. With that in mind, this session concerns itself with winning the ball back as quickly as possible by closing down and pressurising play. While regaining possession is the main aim, the session boosts fitness levels given that it is such an intensive workout.... MORE
by Dave Jones in Defending
Defending is a skill that needs practice, as much as dribbling or passing. Within that, it’s vital that players win their 1v1 duels, particularly in and around the penalty box. When we look back over matches where the team has emerged victorious, we’ll often find that our defenders have performed the defending principles well. We... MORE
by Graham Biggs in Defending
This is a defending session. It is made up of three practices that are all designed to focus on denying opponents the opportunity to progress and penetrate with the ball. MORE
by Jack Ross in Attacking
Primarily, work on the speed of your team’s transition from defence to counter-attack, but also focus on their reaction to losing possession and the speed of recovery when transitioning from attack to defence. MORE
by Matthew Bishop in Defending
Most teams will employ the low block at some point during a season. The key principle of this session is to block the middle of the pitch, starve the opposition of space in terms of vertical lines and prioritise showing the opposition wide. MORE
by Lee Johnson in Attacking
Use this session about switching play and switching the point of attack to show your players how to exploit space on the pitch and ultimately create more goal-scoring opportunities. MORE
by Nuno Espirito Santo in Attacking
To put it simply, this is a finishing session, but as it unfolds and progresses it becomes so much more than that. It allows us to devote time to all of the players – practising and repeating specific actions that will be asked of them in a match situation.
We can adjust how we use this session, as not only can it be used to work on specific movements, combinations and relationships within the team, but it can also be used on a more relaxed training day in order to give some more simple training time. MORE
by Mick McCarthy in Defending
This session is a straight competition between defenders and attackers. It takes the principles of defending as individuals, in units and as a team, whilst also encouraging forwards and midfielders to engage, thus making it as realistic as possible for defenders. MORE
by Quique Sanchez Flores in Defending
This session teaches your players how to defend as a unit and how to delay an attack, even when faced by attackers who outnumber you. It works on improving individual defensive skills and reinforces the need for speed to stop an attack. MORE
by Nigel Clough in Attacking
The emphasis of this session is ‘speed of attacking’, with a view to being clinical in attacking in the final third, and taking in movement, clever play, combinations and overloads MORE
by Neil Warnock in Defending
The key with this session is to teach defenders when to mark the man and when to mark space, with the philosophy of ‘being in position when out of possession’. MORE
by Matthew Bishop in Skills and Techniques
With the compactness of the modern game, getting your team to exploit space when it’s presented is an essential ingredient for success. This practice develops understanding, cooperation and communication between players so that, wherever possible, they take advantage of the space in front of them. MORE
by Danny Wilson in Attacking
This session is about trying to penetrate a four-man unit as an attacking drill. It also looks at stopping that ‘probe’ by forming a tight compact shield that is able to intercept balls and exchange strategy when in possession. MORE
by Phil Parkinson in Defending
Use this defensive practice to teach players how to hold the line, whilst defending threats that emerge through the middle as well as from wide areas. MORE
by Richie Barker in Attacking, Defending
The philosophy behind this session is that the game can be broken down into lots of 1v1 situations all over the pitch, so it’s important that players know how to deal with these events when they arise, which they do frequently. MORE
by Russell Slade in Formations and Tactics
Help your players master basic elements such as movement and rotation in receiving the ball. It’s really important to practise these elements because they represent core skills, and influence almost every match day scenario. MORE
by André Villas-Boas in Formations and Tactics
Throughout this session you will work on possession principles, focusing on build-up play from the back and the mobility of the team. MORE
by Greg Abbott in Attacking
Get your players working on improving their support play, attacking with pace, quality finishing and end product with this all-action session.
MORE
by Paul Peschisolido in Midfield
This session is about creating space in midfield in order to receive or support others in breaks. This scenario often occurs as a first build-up stage in a game when full-backs or centre-backs have possession and want to use it smartly. MORE
by Owen Coyle in Defending
Use this purely defensive session to structure the back four against opposing attacks with different formations. It is an excellent session when preparing for matchday. MORE
by Phil Brown in Attacking
Teach your team the benefit of positive forward play with this 8v8 passing session, which reinforces a positive attacking mindset and increases the opportunity to score goals. MORE
by Tony Docherty in Attacking
Encourage your players to switch the point of attack at pace – get the ball into wide areas of the pitch and enable the wingers to cross into the runs of the attackers. MORE
by Mark Bowen in Defending
Use this session to develop the decision making and positional awareness of defenders when faced with a variety of dangerous balls crossed into the penalty area. MORE
by Stuart McCall in Attacking
Coach your players how and when to switch play to create goal-scoring opportunities – the different activities in this session have a lot of technical, tactical, physical, social and physiological elements within them. These keep the players focused, while also maintaining the sense of competition. MORE
by Phil Parkinson in Defending
This session begins with simple 1v1 and 2v2 defending exercises in order to rehearse players in the basics. It then progresses through practices designed to show defenders how to deal with attacking wide players and how to prevent crosses. MORE
by Roy Hodgson in Attacking
Run this session and develop patterns of attacking play and movement that will create space in wide areas and goal scoring opportunities in and around the penalty box. MORE
by Seamus McDonagh in Goalkeeping
Distribution from goalkeepers - using both feet - is now a vital part of the game. This session helps distribution to real targets become second nature, and prevents keepers kicking aimlessly. MORE
by Brendan Rodgers in Skills and Techniques
This is a training practice that quickly evolves from a simple passing triangle to other activities that coach pressing, receiving, combinations, switches and team movement. MORE
by Malky Mackay in Midfield
Get your midfielders to link up play and support forwards with this progressive attacking session that's based around core principles of retaining possession and getting the midfield to move freely. MORE
by Martin O'Neill in Attacking
This session is about a face-on 1v1 that develops centrally. It is a session designed for strikers, with the end result hopefully being a shot on goal. MORE
by Eric Steele in Goalkeeping
Make sure your keeper is properly warmed up for a match, both mentally and tactically – after all, his or her first task might be to receive a bouncing back pass! MORE
by Dave Jones in Defending
Get your back four working as a unit, whilst developing a clear understanding of defensive roles. This will create a solidity that is difficult for opposition teams to penetrate, meaning attackers can only create chances by doing something really special. MORE
by Darren Kelly in Attacking, Formations and Tactics
Through a series of activities, this session stresses the importance of combination play, both in the central midfield and out on the wings, and it encourages players to change the point of attack with clever switches of play. MORE
by Gary Caldwell in Attacking
Exploiting space and getting behind the opposition defence is a great way to create scoring opportunities. This session is designed to encourage players to make forward runs without the ball, in order to break the last line of defence. MORE
by Adrian Tucker in Goalkeeping
The platform for success often starts with a comfortable and confident goalkeeper, which is why this practice is designed to enhance the composure of goalkeepers when they have the ball at their feet. It uses situations that vary in space, time and pressure to test ability and decision-making skills. MORE
by Alex McLeish in Formations and Tactics
Use this exercise to practise simple movements that are related to improving a player’s awareness of space, developing game intelligence, and encouraging players to understand when, and how, to make runs in behind the defence. MORE
by Aidy Boothroyd in Skills and Techniques
Here are a collection of uni-directional games that test a number of developmental characteristics in players, from the technical to tactical. MORE
by Matthew Bloxham in Attacking
This session focuses on finding the spare man in central areas. It allows for controlled, patient possession, with the belief that if a team dominates the space in the middle of the pitch just outside the penalty area it can dominate the game! MORE
by Lee Johnson in Skills and Techniques
Coach your players to use their bodies to peg back, pin and manipulate a defender in order to gain more time and space, for both themselves and the team. MORE
by Darren Sarll in Defending
Get your defenders creating 2v1s at the back to restrict the attacking threat. You want to see them efficiently and effectively closing down opponents in winning the ball, negating space between the lines. MORE
by Sean Dyche in Attacking
Some modern-day formations can make it difficult to gain a true understanding of attacking principles. For that reason, working on movements and link play in the attacking third, as we do in this session, is key. MORE
by Karl Robinson in Defending
Pressing is important in all areas of the pitch. In this session we look at pressing technique, the relationships between players, and the value of winning the ball in different areas, with an emphasis on turning over possession and creating onward goalscoring chances. MORE
by Gary Johnson in Attacking
Goalscoring, more than anything else, builds confidence in players. And with a game-realistic session such as this, players are building good habits into their match day practice. MORE
by Brian McClair in Attacking
Use this fast and frantic work out to encourage quick finishing in the context of a small-sided game. It is vital that your players understand and differentiate between shooting and finishing – they should be taking quick and accurate shots on goal rather than just hitting the ball and hoping. MORE
by Paul Buckle in Attacking
If your team is set up to pass the ball, use this session to practise passing through and around the lines of defence. It focuses on keeping the ball on the floor, with players encouraged to find positive blind side angles of attack. MORE
by Grant McCann in Attacking
This game is focused mainly on the attacking process so it encourages use of all of the main strengths of the attackers, including their pace and skill. It’s really all about scoring a goal as quickly as possible, and with a time-limited opportunity to score. MORE
by Chris Powell in Skills and Techniques
The brilliance of this session is in its simplicity. Players must perfect touch, technique and team play, then have the intelligence to take those skills through into the next part of the session. MORE
by Perry Suckling in Goalkeeping
A goalkeeper must be quick to deal with a 1v1 situation. Not just quick footed, but quick thinking too. This training session creates just the kind of 1v1 situations needed to rehearse the skills and decision-making needed to deal with an oncoming opponent. MORE
by Paul Hart in Skills and Techniques
The four parts parts of this session deal with the basics of passing and receiving. Although simplistic in their delivery, perfecting these techniques provides the platform for almost everything a footballer needs to do on the pitch. MORE
by Jamie Day in Attacking
As well as helping your players to be positive when in possession of the ball and encouraging them to attack the opposition with confidence, this session will also demonstrate the benefits of creating overloads using good movement and intelligent decision-making. MORE
by John Askey in Skills and Techniques
This is a simple possession game that can accommodate varied training numbers and focuses on many of the key skills required to be successful on match day. MORE
by Michael Flynn in Attacking
Use this session to encourage your players to switch the play to launch attacks. It also helps players to press high as a team when out of possession. MORE
by Tony Pulis in Attacking
Encourage your players to make forward runs to support the striker. Also, use this session to make attacks lightning fast, with the focus on getting the ball to the striker as quickly as possible. MORE
by Mick McCarthy in Defending
Use this session to create a positive mindset to defending – it makes teams hard to beat and teaches players not to concede cheap goals. MORE
by Brendan Rodgers in Skills and Techniques
This is a session that lasts 70 minutes, with coaches and players in a number of specialisms – each offering simplicity and structure, yet requiring good technical ability, intelligence and a certain amount of individualism and flair. MORE
by Dean Holdsworth in Formations and Tactics
Encourage players to problem solve and find space with this session, which is formed of four different game scenarios. The practice offers lessons in how players can really work positional flexibility to their advantage. MORE
by Tony Mowbray in Attacking
Work on crossing and finishing techniques with this session that focuses on passing and combination play between wing backs and wide players, resulting in plenty of shooting opportunities. MORE
by Gus Poyet in Formations and Tactics
Do you find that your team has most of the ball yet finds it difficult to break through in the final third? Use this session to get your players retaining possession and finding players in key positions. MORE
by Justin Edinburgh in Attacking
Being clinical in front of goal when chances arrive can be the difference between winning and losing, so make sure your strikers are ready with this game-realistic session. MORE
by Mick McCarthy in Attacking, Defending
Examine the principles behind attacking and defending counter-attack situations quickly – It’s important to practise this because counter-attacks occur regularly in matches, so both defence and attack need to be prepared. MORE
by Kenny Jackett in Defending
Get your players dealing with crosses that are played both into and outside of the 18-yard box. Heading, clearances, blocks and communication are the key areas of focus in this session. MORE
by Dmitri Lavrinovic in Attacking
The aim of this session is to develop collaborative movement of attacking players in and around the penalty area, as well as working on the quality and variety of the final pass. MORE
by Paul Lambert in Attacking
Create overloads in attacking situations, whether that be while playing out from the back, attacking in wide areas, or attacking in the final third. MORE
by Roy Hodgson in Defending
Get your players pressing and screening the ball with this dynamic session. It also rehearses when and where to chase, and looks at covering positions within the team, recovery runs, and good 1v1 defending techniques. MORE
by Stephen Robinson in Attacking, Formations and Tactics
Creating and linking forward play in the attacking third of the pitch is often the decisive factor in winning games. Creating the link up play is essential, as are receiving skills and movement, and all three can be rehearsed using this session. MORE
by Chris Coleman in Attacking
Use this attack versus defence session to create a variety of situations for players to work on quick attacks and combination play with an end product. MORE
by Steve Harrison in Defending
This is a defensive session that takes the form of three different practices. Each one progresses from the last in terms of how defenders are being asked to cope with ever-changing threats, both in terms of additional attacking players and a wider physical area of responsibility. MORE
by Wayne Burnett in Midfield
Playing through midfield with confidence and precision is vital for any team - use this session to coach players how to receive, pass and work space, linking defence with attack. MORE
by Richie Barker in Goalkeeping
Coach your goalkeepers in the basics of anticipating crosses and dominating their area. Having a trustworthy, proficient keeper positively influences the mindsets and playing abilities of all players in front of him, so this is a vital position in any team. MORE
by Lee Clark in Formations and Tactics
Explore overloads using smart combination play in the final third and get your players creating more goalscoring opportunities. MORE
by Malky Mackay in Attacking
Moving the opposition back four with switches of play and timing of overlaps is a vital part of any offensive side’s armoury, which is why this session looks at creating crossing opportunities high up the pitch by manufacturing 2v1 overlaps and overloads. MORE
by Steve Sutton in Goalkeeping
The tight playing area in this session, combined with the challenge of shots being fired in at varying heights and speeds is designed to replicate instances of loose balls in the penalty area. MORE
by David Pleat in Attacking
This progressive practice session trains players in the usefulness of forward passing and the benefits of overloading areas. MORE
by Graham Westley in Skills and Techniques
Get your players shooting from long range with this session, which is designed to improve shooting ability in and around the edge of the penalty box. MORE
by Russell Slade in Midfield
The ability to hold the ball in midfield areas is crucial to any side as gaining control of the midfield often equates to gaining control of the game, so this is a session that should be practised often. MORE
by Aidy Boothroyd in Formations and Tactics
Help your players feel comfortable when keeping the ball in tight areas with this session which is based on defending in overloads yet incorporates both defensive and offensive elements. MORE
by David Moyes in Attacking
Use this session to encourage and develop quick and incisive football. Players should be looking to quickly switch the point of attack, utilising forward and angled passing, one-twos, plus intelligent off-the-ball movement. MORE
by Anthony Williams in Formations and Tactics
Help your players understand the importance of using the correct weight and angle of pass. The timing of off the ball runs is an important feature of this session and it should also develop an awareness of how to receive a pass. MORE
by Adrian Tucker in Goalkeeping
Develop the speed of your goalkeepers' close-range reactions by getting them to use different techniques to secure, block, parry or deflect the ball. MORE
by John McGreal in Attacking
Use this possession-based session to encourage players to use combination play and intelligent movement to keep hold of the ball and work it into the final third. MORE
by Stephen Robinson in Attacking
Create 1v1 and 2v2 attacking duels in the final third to help players understand how to use their body strength when receiving the ball with their back to goal. MORE
by Neil Warnock in Attacking
The counter-attack is an integral element of the modern game and teams can utilise this tactic to their advantage. This session specifically encourages attackers to make key penetrating movements that are all very realistic to a game situation. MORE
by Jimmy Gilligan in Attacking
Work with your players on switching play and the direction of attack. Starting with a basic passing exercise this session progresses to a challenging multi-directional possession game. MORE
by Karl Robinson in Attacking
Use this session to improve your players’ ability to sustain position, deal with pressure, and produce confident counter-attacking play MORE
by Tony Pulis in Attacking
Encourage positive play in your team… Any coach who runs this session will be guaranteed to see their players making plenty of crosses, taking all kinds of shots and scoring lots of goals. MORE
by Kieran Driscoll in Attacking
Raise the intensity of your combination play with this session, which focuses on taking one or two touches to improve efficiency during fast breaks and counter-attacks. MORE
by Dan Walder in Skills and Techniques
Develop your players' visual awareness by getting them to look around and interpret detail – in essence processing things in their peripheral vision – so that when the ball does come to them they can switch or develop play immediately. MORE
by Harry Redknapp in Fitness and Diet, Skills and Techniques
An all-action session that brings together fitness and technique in a fast-paced competitive game. It relies on individual skill and good teamwork, encourages shots at goal and is played at a high tempo. MORE
by Russ Wilcox in Attacking
Mastering the art of stealing the ball is vital if teams are to turn defence into attack. So this session coaches players in being aware of transitions in the middle third of the pitch, teaching them how to perfect a high-energy pressing game. MORE
by Mike Phelan in Formations and Tactics
Use this full squad session to work on passing out from the back and making the right decisions to pass and keep possession. Its focus includes first touch, through balls, switching play and possession skills, with a final shot or killer pass at the end. MORE
by Kenny Jackett in Attacking
Pure wing play is about developing wingers’ ability to cross the ball, whilst promoting relationships and understanding with strikers and other attack-minded team mates. MORE
by Edu Rubio in Formations and Tactics
Pressing high gives your team the chance to regain possession as soon as possible. This session will help both individual roles and team movement when pressing opponents in their own half of the pitch, starting from their defensive third.
MORE
by Aidy Boothroyd in Defending
If players can take the ball off their opponent anywhere on the pitch, the team is better equipped to deal with an attacking overload, so get your players mastering the art of 1v1 defending. MORE
by Neil Dewsnip in Attacking
Counter-attacking quickly and efficiently is often the best way to defeat good defences, so it’s important to practise this because defences are now so well organised, even at youth level.
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by Tony Loughlan in Formations and Tactics
A great session for player understanding, in terms of how ‘build-up’ can look like ‘counter’. Also, great for tactical awareness – we can put all sorts of scenarios into this game to bring out different outcomes. MORE
by Ronald Koeman in Skills and Techniques
In every game, we aim to be dominant in terms of good possession and good movement. So, this session is about players adopting the positions involved in transitions between defence and attack. MORE
by Darren Sarll in Midfield
Use possession practices, small-sided games and finishing drills to highlight and encourage players to run from midfield into advanced areas. MORE
by David Oldfield in Attacking
Look to improve attacking options and movement with this session, which utilises strong player mentality and concentration in trying to prevent counter-attacks. MORE
by Dave Bassett in Defending
Use this session to improve understanding between your defenders and goalkeeper. It teaches them how to cope with long aerial deliveries, be they from the opposition keeper or outfield players and highlights the importance of cover when defending. MORE
by Guy Whittingham in Attacking
Recognising when to pass forward, sideways and backwards is a core skill and something that must be practised. This session aims to help players understand the importance of passing forward when the opportunity is there to break the lines of defence. MORE
by Chris Hughton in Skills and Techniques
We all have times when we’re left to train with a depleted squad, but it’s nonetheless important that we make the most of these training days when the group is varied. MORE
by Simon Copley in Skills and Techniques
Use this session to focus on utilising space in tight areas, creating overloads and exit routes, whilst moving the ball up and through the thirds. MORE
by John Sheridan in Skills and Techniques
Although the core of this session is uncomplicated, these basics are vital for players because a reliance on good passing forms the bedrock onto which every other skill is added. MORE
by Darren Ferguson in Formations and Tactics
Try this session to get your wide players or strikers receiving in between the lines. The focus is on quality of passing and timing of movements. MORE
by Mick McCarthy in Skills and Techniques
Get your players establishing positive habits in possession. This high-tempo session takes the form of a training circuit followed by a number of progressive games. MORE
by Chris Coleman in Formations and Tactics, Interviews
This session looks at the preparation we undertook for our FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifier against Moldova, and the way we went about our task in the lead-up to that game. MORE
by Brendan Rodgers in Formations and Tactics
The idea with this session is to press high up the pitch to win the ball – this means that the defence must move up quickly to cover any spaces to keep the team compact and not leave space for the opposition to play into. MORE
by Derek Adams in Attacking
Run this session when playing against teams who are going to attack directly – it works by allowing the opposition to come on to you before breaking quickly with a switch of play. MORE
by Sean Dyche in Attacking
One of the most difficult parts of the game is to break down and penetrate the penalty area. This session is all about encouraging movement in and around the penalty area in order to get past a tight defensive unit and create scoring opportunities. MORE
by Gary Rowett in Attacking
Get your players attacking with pace and exploiting the space that an overload creates, then encourage them to be clinical in their finishing. MORE
by Claudio Ranieri in Attacking
Wing play can be the winning difference for teams on match days. This session works on giving players the ability to make quick decisions to transfer the ball to the wings and to support the movement created by that decision. MORE
by Steve Burns in Attacking
This is a session that coaches players in how to build up to counter-attacking, and it uses a whole/part/whole method. That means we take on new ideas before breaking them down and revisiting MORE
by Ryan Giggs in Attacking, Defending
In this session, because the defending team is facing an overload, it is important for them to work together in the best ways possible. It is up to the attacking team to take advantage of their overload and score goals. MORE
by Lee Johnson in Attacking
This is a counter-attacking session in a 3v2 scenario. It is a fantastic training exercise to generate a good tempo, with lots of attacks at goal. MORE
by Tony Pulis in Interviews
When you join a new club there are a hundred things to think about – try this strategy to help you get to grips with the players and learn as much as you can about them in a short space of time. MORE
by Dmitri Lavrinovic in Attacking
The moment an opponent loses the ball is the time to exploit the opportunity of players being out of position, so this session looks at transitions and counter-attacking with a specific focus on running with the ball. MORE
by Michael O'Neill in Attacking, Formations and Tactics
Away from home in international football we always have a deeper defensive position as a team and, therefore, to have attacking threat, we use this session for both purposes. MORE
by Chris Hughton in Attacking
Use this session is to achieve a fast transition from defence to attack. It covers all aspects of high tempo training – defenders not only have to defend overloads, but the session is also about winning possession and fast forward passing. MORE
by Roberto Martinez in Attacking, Defending
This session is about movement of the team in attack and defence to ensure we remain compact with good distances between players. It also helps us develop good spatial awareness of the player in and out of possession, as well as creating good options for the man on the ball. MORE
by Rob Page in Midfield
The session is about passing the ball quickly and effectively across the width of the pitch to utilise space and to penetrate the opposition.
Ultimately, players love passing the ball, so following that logic through, quick and effective link-up play is the best way to create opportunities, find weaknesses in your opponents and score goals. MORE
by Javi Gracia in Defending
This is a session to improve both individual and team defending when an attack comes from wide and balls are crossed into the box. MORE
by Mark Stimson in Attacking
This session is about shooting from different angles in and around the box. It looks at how players can best negotiate space in what is the tightest, most controlled area of the pitch, while also explaining the benefits of reacting after each shot. MORE
by Eric Kinder in Attacking, Defending
As well as encouraging attacking angles, movement, link-up play and positivity in front of goal, this session also gives defenders practice in 1v1s and in dealing with crosses into the box. MORE
by Michael Jolley in Attacking
This session is about helping players recognise the right moments to try to get behind opposing defenders, versus keeping the ball until that right moment arrives. MORE
by Alan Pardew in Attacking
Use this session to emphasise the idea of passing forward in between rigid opposition units to break through an opposition’s midfield and defence. MORE
by Steve Clarke in Attacking
Use this session to ensure that the vital offensive and defensive attributes that go into ensuring space, possession and time in the box are used properly and effectively MORE
by Simon Grayson in Midfield
This session offers a deep tactical insight into how defensive solidity can be attained through the use of a knowledgeable, tight and hard-working midfield unit. MORE
by Billy Mercer in Goalkeeping
This is a keeper session that looks at dealing with crossing then distributing into counter-attacking areas beginning with a good warm-up before moving into basic handling drills, then progress to dealing with crosses and distribution, starting off unopposed then putting in defenders and attackers. MORE
by Graham Westley in Attacking
Use this session to play an open, expansive, forward-thinking passing game, with an emphasis on quick play and forward running. It involves how players should react when the team is in possession and moving upfield.
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by Darren Kelly in Defending
Use the session to to perfect pressing from the front. It outlines technical and tactical ideas, and explains when is the best time to press, when players should be patient, resilient, and when hard to break down. MORE
by Gordon Strachan in Midfield
The session focuses on creating overloads in central areas. It explores the variety of options available for us to ‘own’ this key area, and puts the emphasis on player awareness in possession to make maximum use of what’s in front of them. MORE
by Stuart Pearce in Attacking
This session looks at defending in your own half in order to counter-attack the opposition in an 11v11 practice. MORE
by Jos Luhukay in Attacking, Formations and Tactics
This session examines how we coach a player technically and tactically when attacking or counter attacking in overload situations. MORE
by Steve Lovell in Attacking
Create situations where wide players are encouraged to use as many different kinds of crossing technique as possible to set up goal-scoring chances. MORE
by Gavin Strachan in Defending
Get your back four working as a unit. This session helps players to recognise defensive triggers and identify when to move backwards, forwards and sideways. MORE
by Michael Appleton in Attacking
This session helps quick counter-attacking play with a variety of combinations involving all team members. It’s a high intensity session that tests both forwards and defenders. MORE
by Arsène Wenger in Skills and Techniques
This is a training session that incorporates quick combination passing, positional awareness and intelligent decision-making. It’s important to practise this because receiving and passing are core skills, and they are fundamental to the success of every football team. MORE
by Eric Kinder in Skills and Techniques
Use this session to focus on body shape and the way the players not only receive a pass but also get the pass on to the back foot with the correct weight. MORE
by Michael O'Neill in Attacking, Formations and Tactics
Use this dynamic counter-attacking session to encourage your players to attack with speed and a sense of urgency. It is also a good test for defensive players, giving them plenty of experience in combatting a counter attack. MORE
by Sam Allardyce in Attacking
Breaking down and dominating the opposition backline is essential if a team is going create genuine goalscoring chances in games. MORE
by Mark Warburton in Attacking
Use this session to reinforce offensive movements and to highlight the importance of good technical passing and receiving, crossing and shooting. MORE
by Alan Pardew in Attacking
Get your strikers to replicate movements required on match day. Begin with different phases of play, then look at attacking runs across the face of a defender, pulling off the shoulder, plus complex combination moves. MORE
by Dean Austin in Defending
Create game situations at training that will help your team in trying to regain the ball as quickly as possible after losing possession while attacking. MORE
by Steve Clarke in Attacking
This is about high quality of crosses into the box with good finishing. It’s important to practise this because it is basic technique, skill and tactical awareness that ultimately leads to goalscoring chances being created. MORE
by Michael Appleton in Skills and Techniques
Help players perfect receiving skills, whether that be on the front foot, back foot or the half turn; and whether as a result of one-, two- or three-touch football. MORE
by Simon Grayson in Defending
Challenge your players to properly defend crosses into the 18-yard box with this session that examines the requirements of technique, communication, awareness and a true desire not to concede goals. MORE
by Sam Allardyce in Attacking
A pure technical session that works on finishing and movement. It helps players become accustomed to attacking the goal from different angles, which makes it game realistic. MORE
by Steve Cotterill in Attacking
Encourage your players to make positive and ambitious runs into advanced areas with this practice, which rehearses good finishing and requires high fitness levels. MORE
by Jon Whitney in Skills and Techniques
Use this session to help develop the technique of pressing and encourage players to think about who they press, how they press and when they press. MORE
by Dean Smith in Defending
Use this session to teach players the key points involved in being a solid defensive team – namely patience, and the ability to delay the opposition in order to allow for cover and support from team mates. MORE
by Paul Heckingbottom in Defending, Midfield
The aim of this session is to prevent the opposition from playing through your team's midfield and then to regain the ball by controlling where opponents play. MORE
by Sam Allardyce in Skills and Techniques
This session is about changing the direction of play, including in counter-attacking, in order to create space, and to spread the opposition’s shape MORE
by Simon Grayson in Skills and Techniques
Teams that win championships always seem to be in control of the game and keep possession, which is why this session is all about moving the ball from back to front with purpose and controlled possession. MORE
by Michael Appleton in Attacking
Use this explosive session to make space in front of and behind defenders in order to get into goalscoring opportunities MORE
by Mark Warburton in Attacking
The focus of this session is on combination play that results in a crossed delivery from a specific wide area. We play with attacking full-backs and like to work the ball into wider positions from which we can deliver quality crosses into the area. The first ‘pattern of play’ allows us to place players in... MORE
by Alan Pardew in Defending
You only have to look at the number of goals scored from crosses to know why it’s important for to practise this session. It works primarily on players’ recovery runs when out of possession, and teaches the best runs to make out of possession in protecting the goal. MORE
by Alan Pardew in Defending, Formations and Tactics
He we look at pressing, both as individuals and as a unit. Specifically, focusing on the prevention of opposition forward passes and blocking the lines of attack MORE
by Dean Smith in Attacking
The vast majority of goals scored in the penalty area are achieved using one or two touches. This session therefore rehearses quick thinking and fast shooting in danger areas, where anticipation and speed of thought is key. MORE
by Dean Smith in Attacking
No matter how good you are as an attacking player, you’ll always need great service, and that’s what this session coaches, notably in practising crossing situations from in and around the box. MORE
by Shaun Derry in Attacking
This session covers accuracy of passing both in deep areas of the pitch and in and around the goal. It also showcases combination play of centre-forwards and finishing techniques, third man running and defending situations when outnumbered. MORE
by Nigel Adkins in Attacking
Get your players penetrating the opposition defence with clever runs and passing. Encourage attacking players to get on the half turn when receiving, ensuring they’re aware of where the next pass is going. MORE
by Dean Smith in Attacking
In the session, we look for the different movements of the strikers in linking up to create space and opportunities for both themselves and others MORE
by Chris Hughton in Defending
This is all about setting out a defensive mainframe that also focused on the important aspect of transitions because, as a team, you want to attack and score goals, yet you know that by doing so you will lose possession. So that is when the defensive strategies come into play even more. MORE
by Eric Steele in Goalkeeping
This is a focused possession practice that uses keepers at every opportunity, engaging them as key players in overloads and ball retention. MORE
by Wally Downes in Skills and Techniques
This 2v2 exercise focuses on players making recovery runs, then being positive in both attacking and defending situations. It’s a great session to run during the week if we are looking to work players hard, or in pre-season when building up fitness. MORE
by Alex McLeish in Attacking
This session is principally about the importance of Zone A (post) and Zone B (post) runs. For simplicity, the balls are delivered from wide areas after a ball exchange. Coaching of movement and accuracy of crossing applies. MORE
by Chris Coleman in Skills and Techniques
Keep players working hard and thinking with this session that’s full of different drills and exercises and covers physical, technical and tactical elements of the game. MORE
by Paul Sturrock in Attacking
Fed up running the same old training drills which only focus on possession or finishing or defending? Use this all-encompassing session instead. MORE
by Chris Ramsey in Attacking
Get your attacking runners playing through the lines centrally, then progress to get players ‘going around the outside’ and pinning the far post with runners in the box.
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by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in Formations and Tactics, Goalkeeping
Use this session to focus on the phases of play from offensive and defensive goal kicks and pass-backs. MORE
by Kit Symons in Attacking
This is a counter-attacking practice that leads into transitions. The session will start with an unopposed counter, attacking from deep. This will then progress into a 3v2 attacking opportunity and on into a 4v3 with transition to win the ball from deep in order to counter. MORE
by Michael O'Neill in Midfield
The session is about playing into positive pockets behind the opposition midfield upon regain of possession. MORE
by Matt Williams in Defending
This session is about defending in and around the penalty area, and incorporates a number of defensive principles such as marking, pressing and blocking shots. MORE
by Anthony Williams in Midfield
Switching of play is a devastating and dynamic way of catching opposition players out of position, and this session takes the basic principles of switching before adding progressions and advancements in play so that teams can really utilise this attacking weapon. MORE
by Ian Bogie in Attacking
Use this session to break through a back line. It's a detailed practice that moves from a simple warm-up into more complex possession and penetration set-ups. MORE
by Neil Lennon in Attacking
This fast paced crossing and finishing blueprint is perfect for getting strikers to hit the net MORE
by Seamus McDonagh in Goalkeeping
Using this session improves goalkeepers’ reading of the through-ball, and strengthens decision-making behind a back three or four. MORE
by Lee Johnson in Defending
This is an important session to practise if you want to play a high defensive line, because at some point it’s inevitable you will lose possession and become exposed and vulnerable to a counter-attack. MORE
by Eric Kinder in Attacking
More and more centre-forwards are learning how to play smarter when it comes to taking advantage of the rules of offside. Being clever with their movement can cause defenders countless problems, this session looks at attackers keeping defenders deep by standing in offside positions before coming back onside. MORE
by Aitor Karanka in Attacking
Use this session to examine your players’ ability to attack quickly and create overloads from an organised team shape. MORE
by Danny Wilson in Defending
Coach players on understanding defensive positioning. Show them how to channel opposition passes into areas of strength, where they can attempt to turn possession over. MORE
by Matthew Bishop in Midfield
A high intensity session comprised of a variety of practices that focus on pressing as a team in game situations and transitional play. The key tactical elements practised are vital for all players in all positions. MORE
by David Pleat in Attacking
A progressive and precise session that outlines some of the intricacies of smart wing play. It has been put together to offer a basic wing setup before advancing this through various stages, and using the involvement of additional team mates, plus opposition players. MORE
by Kenny Jackett in Midfield
This passing drill works on combinations in and through midfield, up to the front player. It relies on good movement, players knowing their duties and responsibilities, and a willingness to adopt key tactical ideas such as third man running. MORE
by Mark Warburton in Attacking
Focus on forward runs and encourage positive forward movement linked to patient buildup play and good pitch geography. MORE
by Graham Alexander in Midfield
This session is about switching play quickly while in possession. This can be specifically done for your back four, your midfield, or the entire team. It’s important to practise this so that it becomes a habit for players, and so we don’t just pass forwards. Instead, we want to see players working diagonally – this... MORE
by Dougie Freedman in Attacking
This session is designed to replicate our shape in a game, and to give players an idea of our passing and player movement in different areas of the pitch. Rehearsing this sort of movement is vital if players are to gain an understanding of team mechanics, since this mode of attacking play will be replicated... MORE
by Mark Stimson in Attacking
A shooting session that really gets played in the mood to attack. It’s sometimes assumed that ‘distance’ attacking practices such as this one are just about getting laces behind the ball, but good technique is crucial, particularly with players getting their head over the ball. MORE
by Steve Bruce in Midfield
This session rehearses passing, receiving and offering support through thirds of the pitch. It takes directional passing as a warm-up, then brings in opposed possession challenges in outlining a variety of key technical points. MORE
by Steve Lomas in Midfield
Use this session to get your midfield working as a defensive unit. It’s important to practise this because players in the midfield unit need to develop a clear understanding of their defensive roles. They must learn to be an effective bank without, as well as with, the ball. MORE
by José Mourinho in Defending
This exclusive session from José Mourinho is about defensive organisation, and specifically two points: depth control and double marking. MORE
by David Moyes in Defending
This session is all about establishing and improving defensive principles. It is essential that players know how to defend in all situations: in 1v1s, as a defensive unit, and as a team. MORE
by Sam Allardyce in Defending
The session looks at the core ideal of defending the box, and with it, the goal. It uses 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 systems working in a unit, highlights crosses into the box and works on phase of play against attacking formations. It’s important to practise this in the first place to achieve what I deem... MORE
by Roberto Mancini in Defending
Use this exclusive session to focus on showing the opposition outside from the front, incorporating solid formation play and effective covering of team mates. The emphasis is always on getting the ball to the relative safety of the wing. MORE
by Sir Alex Ferguson in Attacking
This session is about attacking from three different positions and is something that offers versatility in the final third, which is always essential. MORE
by Gus Poyet in Attacking
The exclusive session is about improving the technique and quality of crosses into the 18-yard box. MORE
by Mark Hughes in Formations and Tactics
Use this session to help build understanding and awareness between your goalkeeper and back four so that, when it matters, the correct option is always selected. MORE
by Guus Hiddink in Attacking, Defending
Work on improving penalty box anticipation and reactions, for both defensive and offensive players. This is crucially important because every game is decided by penalty box behaviour. MORE
by David Moyes in Defending
This session is designed to work on a team’s defensive balance, shape and its covering positions when defending against switches of play. MORE
by Antonio Conte in Defending, Formations and Tactics
Give players the opportunity to defend the box as a three, and move the ball forward, either by playing through the midfielders, passing out to the wingbacks, or playing the ball directly to the forwards through the channels either side of the midfield. MORE
by Mick McCarthy in Attacking
Get your team playing off the front men to get in behind the opposition’s defence. Also, help develop possession to create good opportunities to play into either of the two strikers up front MORE
by Neil Lennon in Attacking
Run this session so that you're prepared to counter-attack with an overload. When an opposition attack breaks down, it’s crucial to be ready and prepared to break quickly, so you can capitalise on the fact they are out of position. MORE
by André Villas-Boas in Attacking
This is a progressive, counter-attacking session, run in such a way that the players can understand it right the way from a basic point of view (3v2) through to a more complex game-type situation. MORE
by Jürgen Klopp in Formations and Tactics
This exclusive session from Jürgen Klopp is about the creation and application of the counter-pressing moment as an offensive weapon. MORE
by Neil Warnock in Formations and Tactics
This exclusive session is about counter-attacking in a 4-3-3 formation, with the use of a ‘confrontation line’. This virtual line gives players a unique positioning point to defend up to before releasing a counter-attack. MORE
by Neil Cutler in Goalkeeping
This session is designed to help goalkeepers deal with crosses of different heights, power and trajectories. It will not only show them the technical aspects of dealing with the cross, but also howto use momentum and power when working in and around opposition bodies. MORE
by Dave Beasant in Goalkeeping
This session is focused on angled shot-stopping. It looks at the principles of moving around the goal in order to give a keeper the best chance of reacting to danger. MORE
by Chris Hughton in Skills and Techniques
This session looks at the benefits of quick passing and switches of play. MORE
by Tony Pulis in Midfield
This session relies on the midfield four pressing around the halfway line. It involves movement up and across the pitch to intercept, and dynamic counter-attacking play. MORE
by Gus Poyet in Goalkeeping
This session is about keeper distribution and retaining possession by building play from the back. It mimics short passes to centre-backs and midfield players, low driven and chipped passes to full-backs and wide midfielders, and longer passes to centre-forwards and wide attackers (through half-volleys and volleys). At Sunderland, the keeper is deemed to have a... MORE
by Sam Allardyce in Fitness and Diet, Skills and Techniques
This is a high intensity football-specific conditioning drill, designed to challenge players both technically and physically. MORE
by Eddie Howe in Attacking
Getting players comfortable when both in and out of possession has been central to my coaching philosophy. I have seen players making huge strides in what they do when mastering the art of protecting or pursuing the ball, and good possession habits ultimately translate on the pitch into other skills. MORE
by Claudio Ranieri in Attacking
This exclusive session from Claudio Ranieri is about counter-attacking with pace on the first phase, decision-making and game-related play thereafter. MORE
by Sean Dyche in Defending, Formations and Tactics
This session teaches players simple tactical understanding for pressing as a team. MORE
by Steve Bruce in Defending
We often think of the defence as a unit comprising four or more players, but it’s common for one or two defenders to find themselves in situations where they are exposed to an overload of attackers. This session is one where concentration and communication are absolutely essential. MORE
by Roy Hodgson in Defending
All basic defending principles can be developed and practised with this session, particularly holding up attacks, pushing up from the back, covering over and getting out quickly to meet the wingers. MORE
by Tony Pulis in Attacking
This session is about scoring from crosses. Balls in from wingers contribute to more goal chances than anything else in the game, so ensuring that attackers make the correct runs is crucial at any level. MORE
by Craig Shakespeare in Midfield
Use this session to focus on playing through, and breaking, opposition lines. It is based on keeping possession while looking to make a penetrating pass when possible. MORE
by Elite Soccer in Book Reviews
It’s fair and accurate to suggest we’re all programmed to compete – even the person least concerned about winning or achieving something/anything will have a tiny, alert element that spurs him on to challenge either himself or someone else. Whether though we can programme that competitive streak into a process and method that can leave us to excel past levels we thought unachievable is ultimately what separates great athletes from really great athletes. MORE
by Elite Soccer in Book Reviews
When Matthew Syed published Bounce in 2011, there was a feeling that a lid had been lifted on some of the true psychological mechanics behind talent and power. It was a book of research, gleaned through first-hand experiences over the course of many decades – not least 10 years spent as the number one table tennis player in Britain – that weaved together to create one of the most stimulating and thought-provoking sports coaching books ever to hit the shelves. MORE
by Elite Soccer in Book Reviews
Invincible’ is, first and foremost, a tribute to an incredible side who made history by going through the entire 2003/04 Premier League season unbeaten. It overlaps player interviews with a season diary, subtly placing statistics and events into a framework that builds to a momentous crescendo. MORE
by Sean Dyche in Attacking, Skills and Techniques
This exclusive session from Sean Dyche aims to encourage turning to open the opportunity to play forward rather than sending the ball sideways or backwards.
Within this, it allows players to put the ball ‘at risk’. MORE
by Manuel Pellegrini in Attacking, Defending
This session examines how we condition a player technically, tactically, physiologically and psychologically when attacking and defending transitions in a small-sided competition-based game. MORE
by Chris Hughton in Formations and Tactics
This exclusive session by Chris Hughton could be run on a weekly basis, or it could be linked to a tactical focus for an upcoming game. MORE
