Practice: Receiving to progress

WHY USE IT

A fun way to work on taking the ball into space with a first touch, using body feints to send defenders the wrong way. Also aids shooting and closing down at speed.

SET UP

Mark out an area with a goal at each end and split it into three zones. The middle zone should be slightly smaller than the two end zones.

HOW TO PLAY

Split players into two teams, with two neutral goalkeepers. One player from each team starts in the middle zone, either side of the coach, who serves. The receiving player chooses which goal to attack with the direction of their first touch. They can’t change direction. The attacker must get into the end zone before shooting, while the defender aims to close them down. If the defender wins the ball, they counter-attack towards the other goal. When the action is over, players on the outside swap in. The attacking team has four minutes to score as many goals as possible before swapping roles. Each team has two attacking rounds.

Progression: add an extra attacker and defender in front of each goal, making 2v2s. Add mini goals for defenders to play towards.

Coaching points

What is your body positioning to receive? Where do you want your first touch to take you? How can you disguise where you are going from defenders?