Work hard to win the ball

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What this session is about

When the opponents have the ball your team has no option but to work hard in order to win back possession. Therefore, it is vitally important that you keep the ball when you are in possession.

What to think about

To warm up have the players work on passing and receiving skills before moving on to dribbling skills. Dribbling and passing are two ways you keep possession in football so this will prepare them for the session ahead.
Trying to win the ball back on individually can be hard work so players benefit from taking a rest in the larger area after they have chased the ball down.

Set-up

10x10 yard inside area, 20x20 outside area.

Warm up	Session	Development	Game Situation	Warm Down
10 minutes	15-20 minutes	15-20 minutes	15-20 minutes	10 minutes

What you get your players to do

Four attackers go into the 10x10yd area, the defender must try to pressure the attackers and win the ball.

If successful, the defender must pass the ball out to a team mate and then go to take their place. The team mate receiving dribbles into the area.

The attacker that lost the ball must now defend and try to win the ball back.

One defender tries to win the ball back in the central area.

Development

Play 4 attackers v 2 defenders in the smaller central area.

If the 2 players win the ball, can they pass out to their team mates?

Now the game is 6v4 in the larger area.

If the 4 players win possession the game restarts in the central area with the players rotating roles.

Related Files

Advanced-047-Work-hard-to-win-the-ball.pdfPDF, 222 KB

The two defenders win the ball from the attackers in the small area 2v4 ...

Game situation

Play a small sided game. Look what happens when possession is lost.

Do the players react quickly?

On regaining possession do players give the ball away cheaply?

…and the game becomes 6v4 in the larger area.

What to call out

“React to losing possession”
“Can you win the ball back?”
“Keep the ball”
“Make 3 quick passes”

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Small-sided game: Long-range finishing

Encourage your players to get shots away from distance more often.

Practice 2: Long-range finishing

Encourage your players to get shots away from distance more often.

Practice 1: Long-range finishing

Encourage your players to get shots away from distance more often.

Small-sided game: Receiving to play the ball forward

Players focus on collecting a ball with an open body and on their back foot to enable a quick pass.

Coaches Testimonials

Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club

"I have been coaching competitive soccer for over 20 years in Las Vegas. I feel like you are my personal club director. My players and myself have learned a lot from your sessions. The exercises from Soccer Coach Weekly are easy to understand and implement. I never run out of ideas and there is always an exercise for whatever problem we need to fix. Thank you!"

Paul Butler, Florida, USA

"First and foremost, Soccer Coach Weekly is truly unique and exceptional for its clarity and for explaining the "why?", in addition to the "how?". Soccer Coach Weekly is also professionally managed - any issues, which are infrequent, are resolved in an expedient and courteous manner. I place Soccer Coach Weekly at the top of my recommendation list for any new or seasoned coach of the beautiful game."

Rick Shields, Springboro, USA

"I coach both young club players as well as players at the High School level and both genders. The talent range is wide at times, however with the use of Soccer Coach Weekly I am able to apply the information to all talent levels and player ages and make the session fun and challenging for all players. It has helped spark me at times when I am at a loss for what to do at the next training session or offers a different approach to a current problem."

Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada

"My team and myself are truly enjoying the Soccer Coach Weekly downloads. Pierrefonds Titans are a great group of U16 Females who compete in the Lac St-Louis Association of Montreal, Quebec, Canada."

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