Organisation

Diagram 1. Set-Up Arrangement

Set-Up

• Set up a small-sided pitch as shown in the diagram. You can use the same area for all the components. This lets your session flow easier.
• The size of the area will depend on age / numbers involved. To ensure passing success, make the area slightly on the larger side. To challenge, make it smaller.

Instructions

• Part 1 is a warm-up activity. Include pulse raising and dynamic stretches. Technically, it is based around players’ passing and receiving skills. There is a ratio of 1 ball to 3 players. Work is UNOPPOSED. Coach players to: Pass to feet with correct weight and tempo. Receive on back foot with body open. Add 1-2s, 3rd man running, dummies etc. Finish with “1 minute of 1 touch” with ball ratio of 1:6.
• Part 2 of the session adds opposition, but it is overloaded in favor of the team trying to keep possession. In the diagram you see an 8v4. The 4 defenders change all the time. Give players a few minutes to adapt to having opposition, and then reinforce the work done in the warm-up. Can the eight keep the ball for SIX PASSES? This, in a game situation at the highest level, will help you control a football match.
• Part 3 of the session has even numbers and is a directional one, i.e. players now have a target zone to score into. There is a zone at either end of the pitch, similar to a try or touchdown zone. They now have two different methods of scoring: Keep possession for 6 passes when you cannot go forward. Risk possession by playing a pass into the scoring zone to score a ‘goal’ (players must run into this zone, rather than just hit a static target man.
• Part 4 of the session now looks to bring all the coaching points of the previous hour into a game-related situation.

Scoring

• The team with the most goals after a set period of time is the winning team.