15-18 Passing
At this age, most players will know all the laws of the games and basic techniques. At
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.
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.