Category: Resources

Positional discipline is key to winning games. If players wander all over the park on a whim your chances of devastating attacks or air-tight defence are practically nought. Positional Thinking will help…

The Game

Neither attackers nor defenders may cross the halfway line.  Attackers are also limited to their channels, whilst defenders can roam across the channels as required.

The game is played with no keeper and small goals.

Advanced options

1. All attackers have to touch the ball before a shot can be taken.
2. Both defenders to touch the ball before being moved forward to the attackers

Expansive, fast-paced football is a sure fire way to tear defences apart. But teaching youngsters how to pass-and-move, pass-and-move can be a challenge. The Mind the Landmines drill helps players execute the crisp passing game.

The Basic Idea

Each player runs in their channel.  1 pass to be made per section. The receiver must control the ball, move into the next section and then makes the next pass without hitting a landmine.  They must blow up if they hit one.

Boys stay in their channels and turn around and repeat in the opposite direction which forces the outside players to pass with their other foot.

On completion, players shift one channel right to change centre player.

Field Setup

Advanced options

To keep the interest going and challenge the players:

1. Give teams a time limit to beat before all the bombs go off!
2. Limit the number of controlling touches, say 1 touch and pass (quite advanced!)

Main idea

Fluidity on a soccer pitch is key to winning games. The best teams in the world can open up even the toughest defences by using free space on the pitch.

The Acres of Space drill helps younger players think about their passing. Rather than passing to a player – they pass for a player to run onto.  It also teaches this ‘wide’ player how to centre the ball quickly behind would-be defenders so that the striker is given every opportunity to score.

Coaching points:

• Make sure passes are correctly weighted.
• This is a one-touch drill. Don’t let the players dilly dally on the ball.
• Make sure players work on both their good and weak feet.
• Don’t allow players to jog – this is a pacey full-sprint drill.
• REWARD each pass as much as the final shot.

Field Setup