Sample Practice Plans Used by Decatur United Teams

Practice July 26, 2003

Used 7/26/2003 with U16 and U18 Decatur United Teams. 
 

1. Warm-Up: I think on Saturday, we will run through the touch drills real quickly 10 minutes max. I will incorporate some of what you did yesterday into the foot part of the drills to reinforce.
    

2. Fundamental - Foot Skills
   Four Cone Relay Cutting Drills - again with the cones. I want to reinforce that again. 5-10 minutes.
    

3. Possession!

   • 3 v. 1 grids. 5 minutes

   • 3 v. 1 moving down the length of the field (make lanes down the field with the cones) helps the player's understand the movement in game situation. 5-10 minutes

   • 5 v. 2 grids 10 minutes
      

4. Water Break

   • 5 v. 2 with goalie on half field (Split team up, you take one half field). Swing ball around using goalie in play. Ensure success! 5-10 minutes.

   • Add one defender. 5 minutes

   • Add one defender now 5 v 4 with goalie. 5 minutes

   • 5 v. 5 evenly selected or 4 v. 4 depending on how many kids we have in a 30 x 40 grid Keep away! 5 minutes

   1. Variation 5 Minutes no talking

   2. Variation 5 minutes team with most consecutive touches wins. Moves to play winner of other. Another 5 minutes.

5. Water Break
    

6. Small sided fields 5v5 or 4v4, with goals. Everyone must be past midfield to score. 10 minute periods. Winners play each other.
    

7. MacDaddy Shooting drill to finish practice. The one you run around the goal! The boys like it and they all get to shoot some.

Practice – Tuesday, November 04, 2003

1. Warmup – One lap around the big field.
   Shadow dribbling to warm-up.
    
2. Stretch:
    
3. Fitness:
   1. Cone drills – losers run
   2. Shuttle Runs – Losers run
   3.  11 x 100 runs – Time them to beat is 4:15
    
4. Crossing Drill:
   2 in box (one attacker, one defender) with keeper. One server and winger near mid-line. Swap attackers each time.
    
5. Games:
   
   Two team Keep-away or
   3v3 on two separate fields with small goals for five minutes per game
   Winning team after four minutes must hold the ball for two minutes without giving up a goal.
    
6. Scrimmages – 4 players per team, three teams, penties, play to one goal. Balls out – team off. Or play with neutral attackers.
    
7. Dribbling and shooting drills
   King of the 18 – get three goals and quit.
   Penalty Kicks – Keep score
   MacDaddy Drill – Give penties to two teams

Practice – September 2, 2003

1. Warm-up
2. Build ups
3. Stretching
4. Cone Drills – inside, outside, behind the back, long dribbling
   CONDITIONING – Four cone relay drills – No balls – shuttle races only – losing team does punishment – 10 minutes - These are what are commonly called "suicides". Three players per line with four cones set up per line.  First cone is at 5 yards, second at 10 yards, third at 15 yards and fourth is at 40 yards.  First player in line runs touches cone 1 and then back to starting line, then to cone 2, and back, then to cone 3 and back and then AROUND cone 4 and back to starting line.  He then touches player 2 in his line and the race continues.  Once a player completes his run, he sits down to signify he has finished.  Last team to complete the race does some form of quick punishment - sit-ups, stomach crunches, push-ups.  
5. Windows Drills – Large circle with 2 players per ball

• Pass on ground from server - one touch back to server and then look for a different server. Do right foot only for one minute and left foot only for one minute.
• Pass on ground from server - receiver makes first touch away from pressure and then finds another open player (one without a ball" on the outside of the circle.
• Inside of foot volley back to server - often used on throw-ins to drop ball back to thrower –
• Volleys on laces back to server - use proper shooting technique
• Half volleys back to server
• Chest traps and volley back
• Defensive Headers - clearing headers - up and away – move to different server @ time
• Attacking Headers - down at servers' feet - move to different server @ time

COACHING POINTS:

Keep head up - the number of bodies inside the circle requires the players keep their heads up to avoid collision and, in some cases, to be sure that they are returning the ball to a player who does not already have a ball.
Change of speed - after performing the task and returning the ball to an outside player have the player move half-speed toward the opposite   Constant motion 
Good Technique - sloppy technique means that the balls go in wrong directions and the servers spend too much time chasing balls.  Since every player is supposed to bring their own ball there should be twice as many balls as needed.  Have servers put the extra ball behind them so that they can use it rather than chase an errant pass.
Proper weight on passes - one problem I often see in these drills is soft "hospital" passes
Proper distance - passes should be at least five yards - preferably more like ten yards as you would want in games.
Good serves from servers - serves for headers should be underhand at proper height and speed, etc.
Movement of players to ball rather than waiting for ball to come to them.

6. Work on 3 + keeper + 2 outside mids (restricted to touch-line) vs. 6 attackers - Set two goals up at midfield for points. Defense’s job is to force ball back inside.
   On U18s – Hunter, Vish, Nick, David, Andrew on Defense
   On U16s – Adam, Jonathan, Clay Culpepper, Andrew and Casey on Defense
7. Work on Set Plays – Direct Kicks  - Call this #1
   Always ask for Ten Yards and make sure that the defenders don’t jump.
   Use U16s as defenders first – Ben (Left) and Michael Cole (right) as shot takers, Sage as alternate shooter and Derrick as attacker – Trey must seal end of wall.  Ben runs across ball (fake) and Michael can hit shot or pass to Ben or chip to Derrick. Ben’s shot should be near post or on ground to six yard box.
8. Use U18s as defenders first – Ryan and Conner Johnson as shot takers, Lee and Clay Brown as alternate shooters and Adam as attacker – Garrett must seal end of wall.
9. Work on Set plays – Corner Kicks – Call this #2
   Player sets ball up and then rolls it to other side and trots away.  Second player comes in slowly and dribbles ball along touch line towards goal.
   Always have one defender at ten yards from corner to distract. Should be outside mid on side of field closest to corner.
10. Corner Kick #3 – Near post in-swinger – every attacker tries to get goalside.
11. Corner Kick #4 – Near post out-swinger – every attacker tries to get goalside.
12. Crossing Drill – 4 lines – 1 throw-in, one near midfield, two near center circle. Only if we have enough time.  All crosses on the ground.  Aim at corner of six yard box.
13. Same Drill with balls played on ground.
14. Penalty Kicks – Keep score

Scrimmage - Finish up with full sided game.

Practice –  Thursday, July 24, 2004

1. Warm-up: Trapping – Groups of two players with one ball – Start off with static passing with inside of foot – players about 5 yards apart. Players must be bouncing and receive the ball with one foot and pass it back with the other  WITHOUT taking a step with the kicking foot - first touch must be good.  Trapping is not killing the ball.  You should use your first touch to prepare the ball for your second touch. Ball must be out in your line of vision when trapped so that player’s head does not have to go down.  5 Minutes
   1. Variation – Same Drill except touch away from pressure to outside and return pass with the same foot – alternate feet
       
2. Warm-up Trapping – Active movement - moving across field – same two players with one ball
   Start with passes from player moving forward to player moving back.  Crisp pass that the player moving back kills and player making the pass moves to for the next pass.  Continue the width of the field than switch passer, not positions.  You now have new player moving forward and backwards.  Continue the width of the field to original starting position. 10-15 Minutes
   1. Inside of foot only
   2. Outside of foot only
   3. laces volley
   4. receive with thigh, laces volley back, or half volley depending on skill
   5. receive with chest, laces volley back, or half volley depending on skill
   6. Defensive header (clearing high)
   7. Attacking header (driven low)
   8. Wider distance, roll the ball and chip back to partner
       
3. FUNDAMENTAL –  Set up two or three grids 2x2 with a player in each quadrant.
   Run the four grid drill showing them how the emphasis should be on making the pass to the outside foot, how to adjust if you are the receiver (Sneak a Peek).  Passes to the inside foot should be returned to the passer.  Passes to the outside foot should be played to the next grid.  Count continuous one-touch passes. 10 Minutes
    
4. 30 x 40 box - Groups of three with one ball passing to each other – the only restriction is that they need to keep a 10 – 15 yard separation from each other at all times. 5 minutes – Be sure they open up and pass to outside (front) foot – explain what to do if a teammate passes to the wrong foot
   1. Set up cone random gates within the box. On each pass the receiving player must use his first touch to guide the pass through a gate
   2. Variation – Two touch restriction with passes to space – 5 minutes
   3. Variation – One touch restriction  - 5 minutes
       
5. CONDITIONING – Four cone relay drills – No balls – shuttle races only – losing team does punishment – 10 minutes
    
6. BREAK
    

7. Sequence Passing – 2 cones, 6 players, 1 ball – Cones about 25 yards apart  - Pass and move to the opposite cone.  Use both feet for passing and controlling. Set up several lines and do this as a race to 20 good touches – No limitation on touches to start off with.  10 Minutes
   1. Variation – 2 touch restriction
   2. Variation – 1 touch restriction
   3. Run this through twice without pressure to establish a rhythm, then make the server run straight at the receiver. This forces them to touch the ball away from pressure before passing back.
       
8. Pass and turns – Groups of 4 - two players in center between two cones 25 yards apart – one plays part of passive defender.  The other receives the pass and makes a one touch turn and passes to the opposite cone.  The passive defender then makes a run and receives a pass, makes a one touch turn and passes while the other player becomes the passive defender.  Swap after five passes each.
   1. Variation – Players in center now play against each other – passing and receiving the ball.  End players only pass back to the player who passed to them.  – one minute per group and then swap with outside pair.  5 Minutes
       
9. BREAK
    
10. 3v3v3 in a 15 x 35 box – actually 6v3 – when a team loses possession they have to defend – Need three colors of pinnies
    Three teams of 3 divided into a 25x12 yard area. 2 teams are always in possession against a third team (always 6v3). The team that kicks the ball out or loses possession is the defending team. Five passes in a row against the defending team equals a point for the defending team. Play for 5 minutes. Team with the fewest points wins! Coach is the referee and determines who is defending.
    Coaching Points:
    1- proper angles and distance of support.
    2- draw the defense into one area and quickly switch play.
    3- body angle when receiving should be "sideways on" and open to the entire field.
    4- utilize the entire space ...."spread the field!"
    5- quick transition from offense to defense.
    6- Go to the pass – don’t wait for it.
     
11. Line Soccer - 6v6 or 5v5 on a large field – Set up two fields for 20 – 24 players
    Players score by dribbling over the end lines with ball under control
     
12. Add small goals and play – Team gets a point for a goal if their entire team is past midfield and they get two points if the entire defensive team is not back on their half of the field.
     
13. Scrimmage – 40 minutes – 2 @ 20 minute halves
     

Practice – Tuesday, July 29, 2003

Warm-Up #1

1. Using flags set up a 40 x 40 yard area with a 20’ x 20’ goal (formed by four cones) near each corner.  Divide players into two teams.  There will be only one ball.  Players are to dribble and try to pass the ball through any part of one of the four goals to score.  They must pass or dribble the ball through two different goals (of the four goals) before they can score a point.  Keep score. 
2. Add goals at each end without keepers and have three players per ball.  Pass and move and then when coach yells “Shot” the next player gets one touch and must shoot the ball.
3. Add keepers and number each group.  Coach now calls out a number and that group must put together a good shot and crash the goal.

Shooting Warm-Up # 1:

1. 2 lines facing each other 25 yards apart. One line is next to goal on the right side.  The other line is 25 yards out in front of goal.  Player in front of goal makes an instep drive pass to opposite line where player next to goal walls the ball back to the inside of foot of the beginning passer. The beginning passer then takes a shot on keeper. Shooter and wall players switch lines. All passes should be on the ground.  All shots which go over the top of the goal are punished – shooter must take a lap around small field. Emphasize accuracy of both shots.  Sneak a peek at the keeper.

·        Variation – The wall pass should be closer to keeper and shooter should finish with either a toe jab, outside of foot poke, or chip.

·        Variation – swap to left side and shoot with opposite foot

Shooting Drills:

1. Drill #1 - lines of three on each goal post with two goals facing each other about 30 yards apart. Keeper in each goal. Both balls start on same side of goals.  For simplicity and explaining the drill put one player on each post.  One post feeds a ball to a player coming forward from the other post for a shot. Start from both ends for rotation, let the keeper recover before next pair of players start. Shooter and passer swap places at opposite goal.

Coaching Points: Emphasize player attacking at penalty spot (mark with cone) so he can shoot to either side of keeper. Emphasized playing ball low to either side of keeper. Follow your shot up!  Stutter step before hitting ball with your feet close.  Knee over ball to keep ball low.  Shoulders and hips must be facing goal.

• Variation – Have players swap the ball to opposite sides of goals so they attack opposite side of goal.

2. Drill #2 – FINISHING OVERLAPS:  The first passer overlaps and gets ball back from the receiver. The first passer over laps and get ball back from 2^nd receiver. The over lapping player takes the ball to the corner. The 2^nd receiver sets up far post and comes to near post to finish ball. Be sure that finisher makes a curved run.  Balls should be played on ground and slightly away from keeper to allow finisher to finish. 
   • Variation – Swap sides
     
      
3. Drill #3 – Finishing with back to goal - lines of three on each goal post with two goals facing each other about 30 yards apart. Keeper in each goal. Balls start at opposite goals.  Ball is played from one goal to a player moving away from the opposite goal.  Player receives ball, sneaks a peek, turns and fires shot.  The original passer crashes goal looking for a rebound to put in goal.  Players swap positions.
   • Variation – add a defender from the same goal (opposite post) who delays his start 3 seconds.  Both attackers can work a combo.  Encourage communication.  If defender tightly marks striker then the striker should lay the ball off for the original passer.  If defender backs off then the striker should receive, turn and shoot. Emphasize that shooting is always the first priority inside of the 18 yard box. 
   • Variation – 3V1 to Goal - start with defender and striker on same goal.  Pass to striker from opposite goal.  Both of the players on the opposite goal are also attackers now.  Have striker hold ball against defender and work in combo with the two attackers.  Emphasize far post runs by third attacker and support position (behind the play) by the striker after he makes a pass.
     
      
4. Drill # 4 – 4v2 on each end of field.  Put 2 attackers and two defenders in each half of field. Use pinnies to be sure players know which players are on their team.  Put lines of remaining players on each goal post with two goals facing each other about 40 yards apart. Keeper in each goal. Balls start at opposite goals.  Opposite keeper starts play with a ball rolled out to one of the two attackers.  Two players (on each post will attack and work in combination with the two attackers in their attacking end.  Be sure that players shoot at first opportunity.  Defenders are to try to do everything possible to delay shot and keep attackers from getting a clear angle shot on goal. Look for opportunities for strikers to drop ball back for a long shot by the oncoming midfielders.  Low Shots!  Shots over goal are punished by a lap around field. Be sure that players don’t just make vertical runs.  Runs should be crossing, diagonal, curved, etc. to create space in the box. Be sure all attackers try to get rebounds and don’t just stand around. Add extra players as neutral midfielders who can make wall passes.
   • Variation – Players must shoot on their next touch after the coach yells SHOT.
     
      
5. Scrimmage – 6 v 6 (or 7v7) with two goals 70 yards apart.  Add neutral players if there are extras.  The neutral players play offense only.  Limit touches if needed.
   
    
6. Cool-Down Drill
   • Power & Finesse Drill
   • MacDaddy

Practice – September 24, 2002

1.  Warm-up – slow jog around field

2.  Pass and Trap - Players pair up and use cones.  Run around cone and trap and return ball to thrower.  Swap out after ten.

3.  Back cones up and first player does a legal throw-in.  Trap and return ball to thrower and run around cone.

4.  Toss and Trap – Players pair up and use cones.  Run around cone and trap and return ball to thrower.  Swap out after ten.

5.  Pass and Trap, Turn with ball and go around cone and pass back to the partner.

6.  Cone drills
a. Cuts inside only right foot
b. Cuts inside only left foot
c. Cuts outside only right foot
d. Cuts outside only left foot
e. Cuts – behind the back only

7.  3v1 in square – one team at a time only – the others rest – This is the break time

8.  Chip and Pass – two lines – long chip pass from one line – the other player traps and shoots.  Run this from both sides – no defenders – one Goalkeeper

9.  Chip and Pass with a defender

10. 1v1 with shots on goal – two lines of cones – two defenders who swap each time

11. Cones and shots and follow-up – Keeper is coach who just parries the shot to allow for a follow-up shot.  3 seconds

12. Finish with a scrimmage – provide two neutral center midfielders – they play with the team in possession.  Every third pass must be to a neutral CM.  Coaches can be neutral players.
 

Practice - Monday, November 11, 2002

Raptors Practice for Monday, November 11th, 2002
Add water breaks and Cool Downs
Tell them about “Freeze” and "no talking" concepts.

 1.      Warm-up

a.      Toe taps and soccer dancing – 2-3 minutes

b.      Use cone gates and 2 players per ball – First player to ten wins – 5 minutes

c.      Shadow dribbling – cool down

d.      Steal the ball warm-up – 2 grids 25 yards apart – two teams with penties – three balls

2.      Skill work

a.      Cone drills – Divide into three or four groups – Relay races – first without balls and then with balls. Losing teams chase ball.

3.      Movement off the ball

a.      Transition Drill – King of the 18 – transition from offense to defense

b.      Movement without the ball explanation and exercises – explain support, concept of bending runs, runs to create space (draw defenders out of an area)

c.      Four corner drill – use triangle shape – players must swap grids as soon as pass is made – explain concept of movement off the ball.

d.      Four Square movement drill – 4 grids, 4 players

e.      6v6 + keepers - Two Flag goals, 3 grids, 2 teams – maximum of 2 or 3 players per grid – players may swap grids – no restrictions on touches.  (5 seconds restriction) Violations result in free kicks (both direct and indirect).

4.      Scrimmaging

a.      6v6 (or two even teams) with center square “out of bounds” – requires passing out to sides – coaches are neutral midfielders and may receive ball inside center square which can not be entered by other players – Emphasize short, short, long passing
Every third pass must be to a neutral player.

b.      Full Scrimmage – two touch restriction – two teams with penties

c.      Full scrimmage – no restrictions -

5.      Fun Finish - Shooting Drill

a.      McDaddy Shooting Drill – make two teams and keep score – goalkeeper must stay inside the 6 yard box. Have Tommy serve balls. Keepers who stop shots can punt them.

Practice - Thursday June 17, 2004

1. Warm-up – Your choice
    
2. Movement without the ball – four squares.  This is the drill I ran last year.
   http://www.nasl.com/rue/exercises_of_the_day9.htm#Creating%20Player%20movement
             Play 4v0 in a grid. As the ball is passed, all players but the receiver must move to different space. This is very hard and very tiring. The first pass is no problem, it's making the next run on the next pass. This requires constant movement with momentary stoppages--this seems to be a strange concept most all players I have trained.
            One of the biggest problems is that someone has to start the movement, so the other players can find new space. It is tough concept for a player to move to space that currently is occupied by another player. You don't have many space options when in a fairly tight grid.
            To help the activity along, ask the receiver to get in several touches before making the next pass. Also, ask the passer to move off the pass quickly and not wait to see how it turns out. This should allow the players to get into a constant flow (for at least 5 seconds).
            Now the fun starts, add a defender and watch the movement stop or become the standard movements towards ball to support. It is critical that the players understand they can and should make runs behind the defender. At some point, a second defender can be added.
    
3. Defending against the featured player – This exercise is intended to help teams work on getting the ball to a target (“go-to” type) player and at the same time to deny the ball to the other team’s target player.  I suggest we do this drill with Ryan and Charlie being the target players. This is a good preparation for what we will see on Saturday.
   http://www.nasl.com/drills/fine/edition25.htm#Training%20the%20Featured%20Player
       Teams frequently have one or two "featured players".  These are the players that they want to have the ball as much as possible and who make each player and the team as a whole better.  Some examples of featured players over the years would be Pele, Johan Cruyf, Diego Maradona, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly).  Since these featured types of featured players work best with the ball, it's important to train them to find the ball and also to train the rest of the team to try to find these featured player in the course of a game.
      One way to train these featured players is to play keep away games with the featured player or players in a different color.  Whichever team has the ball has a number up situation with the featured players on that team,  In the diagram below, the it's a 5 v 5 game with 2 featured players in a 25 x 25 grid.
      Teams get a point for 5 consecutive passes plus they get a point every time one of the featured players gets the ball.  When there is a change in possession of the ball, the featured players change teams so they are always on offense.
       The featured players will have to learn to find space to receive passes and the offensive players will have to learn to keep possession of the ball while also looking to find the featured players whenever possible WITHOUT forcing the ball and losing possession.
       Defensively, the players will learn to try to keep an eye on the featured player and force the ball away from the featured player while also having to try to win the ball.
       The next step in this progression is to assign one of the featured players to each team so now it's an even number game and each team only has one featured player.  This makes the featured players work even harder to find the ball. The scoring stays the same. 
       The next step is to add goals.  Each team still have a featured player (depending upon the numbers there might be 2 per team) and they get a point each time the featured player gets the ball and 5 points for a goal.
        If you think this whole idea of a "featured player" doesn't apply to you, think about how many times you have seen a team with a top player on it that you try to shut down.  The problem with trying to shut down a top player is that most teams don't practice to do this.  If you don't practice it with your team, how can you expect them to be able to do this?  Also, if you have a forward who is a goal scorer, if you don't train this forward to find the ball when being specially marked, how can you expect this forward to know how to do this?
    
4. Offense vs. Defense – Divide our team up by positions
        Offense (6 players) will have two forwards and four mids and will try to score on the large goal.  Defense (7 players) will have a goalkeeper, four fullbacks and two target forwards and will try to clear the ball wide and will have three cone or flag goals at midfield to score on.  The two goals near the touch-line will be wide and the one in the center of the field will be narrower.  The two forwards will play just inside of midfield no more than 5 yards inside. 
           Start with a ball played into to the keeper or the back line (in the corners).  The object for the defense is to clear the ball wide and long (over the top and up the sides) to one of the two forwards.  The two forwards will work in combination on whichever side the ball is played to by sliding to that side.  The object for the offense is to cut off the passing lanes (make the other teams attack out the back predictable) and to steal the ball.  They must try to deny the long pass out of the back to the forwards and to force the ball back inside where they have the four midfielders.  We can add two more midfielders for the offense if needed to even things up.  The main thing I want to get in their minds is to get those long passes quickly out of the back along the touchline to the outside mids so that we can (#1) clear the ball out of danger and (#2) to quickly counter-attack “with numbers” in the those areas where most teams are weaker (fullbacks).
    
5. Scrimmage against the U18s.
    
6. If we have more time let’s play some "LINE SOCCER" to work on movement off the ball.
   http://www.nasl.com/drills/linesoccer.htm 
    

Created: 12/20/99
Last Updated: 03/26/07

Since February 24, 1999
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