Try something different in the final third

This session is great for encouraging players to be creative in the final third which is one of the hardest things to achieve in your coaching sessions. Creativity stems from players being confident to try something even if they fail at it.

Why use it

Great session for movement and combination play in the final third. Also has 1v1 against the attacker and shots on goal. 

Set up

You need balls, bibs and a goal using the penalty area of your normal pitch. The session uses 13 players.

How to play

Three players line up on each of the “four corners”.

Play starts at 1. They pass the ball across the box to group 2, then run to join the back of that group.

Player 2 passes diagonally across the area to group 3.

Player 2 then becomes a defender (passive or active depending on skill level) Player 3 makes a leading pass to player 4 (then joins group 4) Player 4 receives the ball, has beat the defender and shoots.

Once the play is over the defender joins group 3 and the attacker group 1. 

Technique

This drill improves passing accuracy, passing and then moving, leading passes, 1v1 finishing and defending.

Best of all it requires no cones, or equipment so can be set up by the kids and used as a pre-game warm up.

Start without the defender, then progress to a passive “obstacle” and then eventually to active defending.

Players rotate quickly through each position keeping them engaged and active.