15-18 Attacking

3v3 tournament

Suitable for 13+ players

Benefits to football –

1. Travel with the ball
2. Looking for space

Session set up –

Two areas (30×20 yards each)
Top Pitch: One normal goal at one end, an end zone, and a target goal (or another end zone) at the other end.
Challenger Pitch: End zones and target goals (or just end zones) at both ends.
Split into two 3v3 groups, one on each pitch. Assign a keeper to defend the normal goal on the top pitch.
Score as many goals as possible against the keeper to stay or move to the top pitch. Teams on the Challenger Pitch move to the Top Pitch if they win. Teams on the Top Pitch stay if they win; if they lose, they move to the Challenger Pitch.
Top Pitch: Attacking team scores in the normal goal; defending team scores by moving the ball into the end zone and passing into the target goal.
Challenger Pitch: Score by getting the ball into the opposing end zone
and passing into the target goal.
Tie: Use ‘rock, paper, scissors’ to decide the winner.
To encourage more dribbling, add a rule that players cannot pass the ball when in their own half.
Play a series of 3-minute games, rotating teams between pitches based on their result

Position specific possession

Suitable for 12+ players

Benefits to football –

1. Develop scanning positioning
2. Work on different techniques of passing

Session set up –

Area: 50×60-yard area with an end zone at one end. Use the penalty area and goal on that end. No end zone on the opposite side, but place three smaller goals about 10 yards beyond it, spaced out.
Yellow Team: 1 goalkeeper in the large goal and 5 outfield players within the area (cannot enter the end zone).
Blue Team: 8 position-specific players in a 4-2-3-1 formation (without full-backs and a goalkeeper): 2 center-backs outside the area defending the small goals, 3 midfielders within the area, 2 unopposed wingers outside the area, 1 striker locked in the end zone until they receive the ball. Combine with teammates to score.
Yellow Team: Starts by playing the ball to their deepest player. They must work together to bypass the 3 blue midfielders and score in one of the small goals.
Blue Team: Midfielders must win the ball within the area. Center-backs try to intercept efforts on goal while staying back to protect the small goals. Wingers can move unopposed along the wings but cannot enter the area. Striker remains in the end zone until they receive the ball, then breaks out for a 1v1 against the goalkeeper.
Yellow team stays within the area and cannot enter the end zone. Blue team’s center-backs stay back; wingers stay outside; striker stays in the end zone until they receive the ball. When a goal is scored, the blue team restarts the practice.
The session emphasizes the blue team’s movement, positioning, decision-making, and teamwork to deny the opposition and create attacking opportunities.

Overloading finishing

Suitable for 7+ players

Benefits to football –

1. Finishing
2. Quick attacking play

Session set up –

Use a third of a pitch with 3 equal lines of players at the opposite end to the goal with a goalkeeper in it. One line should be on the right-hand side, one should be on the left, one should be in the middle. The coach starts off with multiple footballs.
The coach plays the ball into the player in the middle, this player then proceeds to have a shot at the goalkeeper. Then the coach plays the ball to one of the lines on the wing, then the 2 players on the wing have a 2v1 against the player who just had a shot against the goalkeeper. Then a ball is played into a player in any line, and they then proceed to have a 3v2. The 2 defending players will be the players who previously attacked in the last play. Encourage fast attacking play from the attackers.

Getting in behind to score

Suitable for 10+ players

Benefits to football –

1. Receive the ball under pressure
2. Control and turn in tight areas
3. Make forward runs
4. 1v1 finishing

Session set up –

This game is a 6v7 overload/underload soccer drill focused on improving players’ ability to navigate congested areas and score. The pitch is divided into middle and end zones, with each end zone varying in size—one is smaller to enhance close control, and the other is larger to encourage bigger touches.
All outfield players start in the middle zone. The team with fewer players attacks the end zone with less space. Play begins with a goalkeeper or a throw-in. Players must control the ball, then either combine with teammates or dribble to create scoring chances in the end zone. Only one attacker is allowed in the end zone, and they must score within a set time before a defender can enter.
You can progress the game by narrowing the pitch to emphasize close control or allow two attackers in the end zone to encourage more combination play when finishing.

Building fast attacks

Suitable for 8+ players

Benefits to football –

1. Clever movements
2. Practising individual possession
3. Counterattack quickly

Session set up –

Set up a big pitch with lots of space for the players. Just outside the pitch dot loads of cones around with football on the cones.
This game is a normal game of football; however, teams only have 1 minute to score or possession is turned over (if the other team wins the ball while it’s in play, they then have a minute to score). Balls around the pitch mean play can restart very quickly Players have to be very sharp and have lots of movement of the ball while their team is in possession.

Lay off and shoot

Suitable for any number of players

Benefits to football –

1. Finishing
2. Different angles of shooting

Session set up –

Have a player or coach (setter) stand on the edge of the box with their back facing towards goal and every other player should be in line a few meters behind the setter with a football.
Players pass the ball to the setter and then the setter lays the ball either side of themselves and that player has a shot at the goal. Afterwards, the player collects their ball and goes to the back of the queue.
Make sure to set the ball both sides so players shoot with both feet.

2v2 Attack vs Defense

Suitable for any number of players

Benefits to football –

1. Timing of press
2. Teamwork/communication
3. Understanding overloaded situations

Session set up –

Use 1 goal with a goalkeeper and a quarter of a full-size pitch. Have 2 defenders, with one standing either side of the goal. If you have more players, you can have 2 lines of defenders either side of the goal. Each defender should have a football. Have 2 attackers stand a few metres in front of the halfway line.
One of the defenders will pass the ball to the attackers, once the ball is passed the defenders can push up the pitch to the attackers. The players then have a 2v2, once the ball is scored or defenders win the ball the round ends. Encourage attackers to drive and build up speed with the ball before the defenders arrive. Encourage defenders to jockey and take attackers away from goal. If the defenders are winning too much, you can make it so the defenders can only press when the attackers take their first touch.