Goalkeeping
Shot Stopping
Dealing With Crosses

Defending
Stop Turning and Stop Forward Passing
Defending in the Defending 3rd Against Attacks from Central Positions and Crosses
Defending Crosses
Coaching Three Central Defenders
The Role of the Full Back
Defensive Header's
Two Central Defenders in a Zonal Defence
Coaching A Sweeper
Sweeping in the Defending 3rd
Three Centre Backs Defending Centrally
Screen and Slide

Possession Play
Keeping Your Head Up
3 + 3 v 3: Possession Play
9 v 3 Keep Ball
Support All Around
Creating Depth and Width
Quick Transition Play
Quick Decisions
Transfer Play
Spreading Out and Positioning
Spreading Out as a Team
5 v 3 Possession Play
Developing Attacks from the Defending Third

Attacking Play
Winger Crossing
Finishing from Crosses
Attacking from Central Positions
Counter Attacking
Creating Space In and Around the Penalty Area
Build Up Play
Passing and Shooting
Shooting
Breaking Quickly from Central Positions
Crossing and Finishing
Forward Runs
Free Kicks

A Functional Practice is when an area of the pitch is reproduced in a grid so the coach can work with specific players.
For example: You are managing a team who play a 3 - 5 - 2 formation and you want to coach the three central midfield players their angles and distances of support when defending in front of the defence and what to do when they win the ball back.

Organisation

Therefore you will need your three midfielders and two centre forwards to play against the same opposition in an area relative to their position on the pitch. The attackers will be approximately 10 - 20 away and you will need your midfielders no more that 8 yds apart.
Therefore you will need an area of 20 x 25yds.

Midfield players try to pass into the forwards feet. The opposing team must try to win the ball back and then pass into their forwards feet.

Start with servers unable to move and progress to them moving along the line.

Key Coaching Points

  • Nearest man to the ball
  • Press front on
  • Support, angle and distance. Don't let them see the targets
  • Umbrella shape
  • Footwork
  • Transition when you win the ball to attacking play
    See Winger Crossing in a functional practice for other ideas.

My Favourite Drills
My Favourite Small Sided Games
UEFA 'B' Level 2 Award
Fun Games for Under 8's

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