| Drill 1 - Follow the Pass |
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Warm Up:
Refer to the “Warm Up” section for a variety of fun warm up activities for your team. Use a combination of exercises “with” and “without” the ball. Relate the warm up to the skill of the day. Be creative, energetic, and make the
warm-up a fun start to the practice session.
Objective of the Practice:
This practice is designed to improve the correct mechanics involved in the execution of the “Push Pass.”
Field Preparation:
 Area 10 x 10 yards. 2 players. 1 ball. Cones.
Coaching Points:
Two players are positioned in a grid 10 yards x 10 yards. One player acts as a server, the other as the receiver.
The server passes the ball into different areas of the grid for the receiver to chase, turn, and pass back to the server.
The coach should emphasize the following coaching points:
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Work at a high intensity.
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Turn as economically as possible when controlling the ball.
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Place non-kicking foot along side the ball, not too close so that it will prevent the natural swinging motion of the kicking leg.
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The ankle of the kicking foot must be firm.
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Use a slight drawback of the kicking foot.
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Strike the ball with the inside of the kicking foot through the horizontal mid-line of the ball.
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The head should be kept steady and eyes fixed firmly on the ball.
Alternate player’s roles every 60 seconds. |
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| Drill 2 - Pass and Run |
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Objective of the Practice:
This practice is designed to improve the correct mechanics involved in the execution of the “Push Pass".
Field Preparation:
Area 10 x 10 yards. Small group of players. 1 ball. Cones.
Coaching Points:
Two groups are positioned at each end of a grid 10 yards x 10 yards. The first player with the ball passes to the player opposite. After passing, the player sprints to the opposite end of the grid and joins the back of the line.
The receiving player repeats to continue the sequence.
The coach should emphasize the following coaching points:
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| Drill 3 - Numbers Game |
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Objective of the Practice:
This practice is designed to improve the technical ability of the “Push Pass” with an emphasis on awareness of supporting players.
Field Preparation:
Area 20 x 20 yards. Small group of players. 1 ball. Cones.
Coaching Points:
Divide your players into groups of fives. Position each group inside a grid, with one ball per group. The grid is approximately 20 yards x 20 yards. Each player has a number 1 through 5. The players pass the ball around the
grid using the "push pass".
The practice starts with #1 passing to #2, #2 must pass to #3, #3 must pass to #4, #4 passes to #5 and #5 must pass to #1.
This sequence is maintained throughout the drill. Each receiving player must shout out their number to attract the attention of the passing player e.g.: If #1 has the ball, #2 must shout out their number to attract the attention of the player.
The players should move continually around the full area of the grid, constantly adjusting their position.
Players should be encouraged to look around them before they receive a pass, enabling them to identify the next passing option quickly.
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| Drill 4 - The Color Game |
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Objective of the Practice:
This practice is designed to improve each player's vision when passing the ball.
Field Preparation:
Area 30 x 30 yards. Small group of players. 1 ball. Cones. Colored bibs.
Coaching Points:
An area is marked out approximately 30 yards by 30 yards. Divide players into two groups and identify each team with different colored vests. Players move around grid passing the ball "two touch". The passes must always be in the sequence of "Red Player - Yellow Player" (red can only pass to yellow and yellow to red). This forces players to scan the area before receiving the pass. Progress to "one touch" play. Encourage players on the ball to pass over a variety of distances, not always a short pass. Encourage players off the ball to get into a position in line of the players vision (don't hide). Condition the players "not to talk or clap" for the ball.
All communication is visual. Then take off condition.
Progression:
On the coaches command the player in possession must pass to the player named by the coach. When the coach shout's "Johnny" the player in possession must quickly scan the field, locate the player, and pass quickly to the player’s feet. The play is continued with the "Red-Yellow" sequence until the coach calls another player’s name.
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| Small-Sided Game (with goalkeepers) |
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Exercise Objectives:
Finish with small sided game 6 v 6, 7 v 7 (with Goalkeepers). The practice should be concluded with a small-sided game reinforcing the coaching points from your drills. |
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Field Preparation
Entire Group (split into two equal teams)
Area 40 x 60 yards
Use Small Goals, Cones or Flag poles
Supply of Balls
Colored Bibs |
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Coaching Pointers:
- Divide the players into two equal teams with goalkeepers.
- Each field should be approximately 40 yards x 60 yards.
- Use corner flags or cones as goals.
- Total time, 20-30 minutes.
- At the end of your session, review all coaching points made during the practice.
Record Score:
Team 1_________________ v Team 2 _________________
At the end of your session, review all coaching points made during the practice. |
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