Station 1 - 1v1 Technique

Divide the group up into pairs. Place a cone down with a ball on top. Players will play 1v1 trying to knock the ball off the cone. Play for 1 minute before switching attackers and defenders.

Progression: Turn it into a competition. Keep track of points, point every time the attacker can knock the ball off the cone. Rotate groups so they have a different opponent each time.

Emphasize:

- Keep the ball moving

- Be aggressive and take opportunities

- Be creative

- Encourage skills

- Correct defensive technique (side ways on, be patient, low center of gravity)

Station 2 - 2v2's

Divide the group into 2. One side always start with the ball (blue = defenders) and pass into the other group (white = attackers). On the first touch, defenders can come out and pressure. Play until a goal is scored or once the ball goes out of the area.

Emphasize:

- Working together

- Decision making (pass, dribble or shoot?)

- Can they make a defender commit before passing or going past them?

- Creativity of the second attacker to create space via movement (overlaps, diagonal runs, horizontal runs, dropping deep, moving out wide)

- Encourage skills

- Correct defensive technique (1st & 2nd defender, who pressures the ball, who covers, get out quickly to pressure, not being in a straight line, can they make it a 1v1 instead of 2v1?, can they counter if they win it?)

Station 3 - 1v1v1v1 Four goal game

Divide the group into 4 teams. Coach has all the balls in one corner. Coach will play a ball into the middle or to any player to start the game. Balls can be played in any way (along the ground, bouncing, in the air). The players can score in ANY goal apart from their own. Play first to 'x' amount of goals wins.

Progression - Create a 2v2. Teams pair up with the group opposite. In this case Blue & White vs Red & Black. They can only score in the other teams goals.

Emphasize:

- Decision making

- Aggressive play (with the ball, don't be hesitant)

- First touch (where do you want to go next?)

- Encourage correct defensive technique

- Encourage skills

Station 4 - Conditioned SSG

Divide the group into two teams. Each player then picks a player on the other team. This means that these two players will always play against each other 1v1. You can only tackle, mark/guard, your own player, not anyone elses.

Emphasize:

- All previous points

- Correct Defensive technique

- Players to be creative on and off the ball

- Decision making

- Discipline of playing against an opposition player

Open play - 20/15 minutes