TACTICS
Soccer Coaching Packs
5 ready made coaching sessions
SmartSessionsReady made soccer coaching plans
Between the linesThis session is designed to improve playing between the
lines. This means getting players and passes into the
spaces created by the opponent’s chosen formation.
What you tell your players the session is about
What to think about
1. Improving awareness of space.
2. Improving forward passing.
3. Improving attacking play.
Warm up Session Developments Game Warm down
10 mins 15 mins 15 mins 15 mins 5 mins
Warm-up
The session
Development
Game
Warm-down
Activity Kit Outcome
Session planner
You can cause real problems for the opposition by
placing players between the lines of the opponent’s
midfield and defence. The defenders will not know
whether to come forward and mark the players
which can leave a forward free to receive a pass.
And the opponent’s midfielders will not want to drop
deep as this will leave your midfielders free.
Players that play in these zones are often the most
exciting players to watch (Rooney, Joe Cole, Messi
etc.
Where it fits
Soccer coaching plans you can take straight on to the field www.bettersoccercoaching.com
Players make forward passes through the space between the cones
Playing through opponents
Playing through the opponents to score a goal
Better game awareness of the lines in the opponents formation
Gentle jogging and stretching exercises
Individual skills: Passing and receiving,
movements off the ball, communication,
dribbling, shooting
Team skills: Team work, communication,
combination play, group attacking and defending
#40 gates pairs
Balls, cones
Goals, balls, cones
Goals, balls, cones
n/a
Tactics
direction of run pass
dribble
Set-up
Three teams of three players.
One team work as the neutrals with one player on
each end line and one in the middle.
The aim of this game is to combine with your team
mates and the neutral player in order to get the ball
from one end to the other.
• 50 x 30 yard area.
What you get your players to do
What to call out
Between
the lines
The shaded areas show the spaces between the lines in a 4-4-2 formation.
The white team pass the ball from one end to the other to score a goal.
www.bettersoccercoaching.com
Game situation
Play a normal game.
Encourage players in possession to make forward
passes.
Encourage players not in possession to play on the
half-turn with open shoulders, this will enable them
to see space on the pitch.
Development
Now play a small-sided game where each team
has three attackers and three defenders.
When the defenders are in possession, one of
their team’s attackers must pull into the free zone
in order to receive a pass beyond the opponent’s
attackers but in front of its defence.
Now the player is free to turn and attack to score.
• “Open your shoulders and look for space”
• “Try to pass forward”
• “Try to move behind the opponents”
The white defenders pass between the lines to a white attacker who turns to dribble forward.
SmartSessionsReady made soccer coaching plans
The switch gameThe “switch game” has a number of small-sided games
crammed into one simple pitch.
This type of multi-pitch allows the maximum playing
time for your players and lets you develop their range of
skills, techniques and tactics.
What you tell your players the session is about
What to think about
1. Improving game awareness.
2. Applying simple game tactics.
3. Mental development through coping with different
games.
Warm up Session Developments Game Warm down
10 mins 15 mins 15 mins 15 mins 5 mins
Warm-up
The session
Development
Game
Warm-down
Activity Kit Outcome
Session planner
Each side of the pitch has a target requiring teams
to find a different way of scoring. This forces the
teams to employ different tactics:
• The two mini goals will force players to switch play in order to find the free goal to score.
• The end zone forces the teams to dribble the ball forwards.
• The passing targets force the team to play out of defence and pass forwards.
• The big goal combines the dribbling, passing forward and switching play with shooting skills.
Where it fits
Soccer coaching plans you can take straight on to the field www.bettersoccercoaching.com
Footwork exercises to improve speed and movement
Each game is played for 3 minutes with a 1 minute break.The players are now aware of the game and the rules
On the coach’s call of switch, games become random as the team’s change their targets
Normal game
Gentle jogging and stretching exercises
Individual skills: Game awareness, passing,
dribbling, shooting, communication, movement
skills, defending, control
Team skills: Communication, co-operation / team
work, defending, attacking
#25 continuous ladders
Balls and cones, goal, mini goals, poles / mannequins
Balls and cones, goal, mini goals, poles / mannequins
Balls and cones and goals
n/a
Tactics
2 goals
1 goal passing targets
end zone
whites attack passing targets greys attack 1 goal
whites attack end zone greys attack 2 goals
Set-up
The teams play 4, 3-minute games with a 1 minute
break in between.
In each game the teams are attacking and
defending different targets, requiring different
methods of scoring. The teams have to employ a
new tactic in each game to be successful.
The goalkeeper is used in each game. If a team is
defending the big goal, then the goalkeeper plays
for this team. However, if no team is attacking the
big goal, then the goalkeeper plays as a neutral
player and gives the team in possession a one
player advantage.
• 30 by 30 yard area.
• If you don’t have mannequins or access to 3 goals, mark them out with cones or kit bags
instead.
What you get your players to do
What to call out
The switch game
The initial set up of the 30 by 30 yard pitch with targets.
The grey team attack the big goal while the white team attack the passing targets.
On your call of “switch”, the teams rotate left, the grey team now attack the two mini goals and the white team attack the end zone.
www.bettersoccercoaching.com
Game situation
Play a normal game. The tactics learnt in the switch
game should be applied in the normal game.
Development
Rather than playing for a set amount of time you
can call “switch” at any point in the game. The
teams must quickly switch the game they were
playing and rotate to defend the scoring line to
their left.
• “How can you score?”
• “Switch”
• “React to the next game”
SmartSessionsReady made soccer coaching plans
The target man“Target man” is the term used to describe a centre
forward who is able to hold the ball under pressure and
then pass back to supporting players. This session
includes three simple practices to develop target players.
What you tell your players the session is about
What to think about
1. Developing the use of a target man.
2. Bringing team mates into the game.
3. Making forward runs and passes into the final
third of the pitch.
Warm up Session Developments Game Warm down
10 mins 15 mins 15 mins 15 mins 5 mins
Warm up
The session
Development
Game
Warm down
Activity Kit Outcome
Session planner
In every game, your team will spend a period of time
under pressure and defending their goal. Therefore,
when the ball is cleared it’s important that you have
forwards that can hold on to the ball, allowing team
mates to get up the pitch.
Where it fits
Soccer coaching plans you can take straight on to the field www.bettersoccercoaching.com
Players pass and go to another ball. From The Ultimate Warm-Ups Manual, exercise 73
The target man holds up play in order to set up the midfielder for a shot at goal
The players are making forward passes and runs to support the target man
The target man holds off the defender and brings the midfielder into the game
Gentle jogging and stretching exercises
Individual skills: Passing, control, turning,
shooting, strength to hold off the defender
Team skills: Communication, combination play
Balls
Balls, cones, goals
Balls, cones, goals
Balls, cones, goals
n/a
Tactics
direction of run pass shot
2v1
Set-up
The players make a forward pass into the target
man who must hold the ball, wait for the players to
make a supporting run and then lay the ball off for
the player to shoot at goal.
The target man must ensure he follows in the shots
for any rebounds off the goalkeeper.
• Create a 60 yards by 40 yards area with a goal at either end.
• Split the playing area into three zones by creating end zones 15 yards from both goals.
What you get your players to do
What to call out
The targetman
www.bettersoccercoaching.com
Game situation
While still playing a small-sided game, place a
defender in each end zone.
The target man must hold off the defender and
keep the ball until a midfielder runs into the end
zone to make a 2v1 situation.
Finally, play a normal game.
Development
In a small-sided game, each team nominates a
target man that goes inside the opponents’ end
zone. The remaining players play an even numbers
game in the central zone.
The aim of this game is for players to make a
forward pass into the target man and then run into
the end zone to receive a lay off and shoot at goal.
Defenders can track back with the midfielder to try
and block the shot.
• “Show yourself as a target”
• “Hold the ball and wait for support”
• “Bring team mates into the game”
The midfielders must pass to the target man and run into the end zone to receive a pass and shoot at goal.
The target men now have defenders marking them. Can they still hold on to the ball? Can a midfielder make a forward run and create a 2v1?
After receiving a pass, the target man must set up the supporting midfielder for a shot at goal.
SmartSessionsReady made soccer coaching plans
Squeeze and stretch
What you tell your players the session is about
What to think about
1. Regaining possession to counter attack.
2. Passing into the space behind the defence.
3. Developing the forward’s role in the team.
Warm up Session Developments Game Warm down
10 mins 10 mins 20 mins 15 mins 5 mins
Warm up
The session
Development
Game
Warm down
Activity Kit Outcome
Session planner
• Do your players recognise the opportunity to exploit the space behind the defence after
regaining possession?
• Can the players look to play the ball into this space?
• If not, can they pass to the forwards? Can a midfielder look to make a supporting run behind
the defence?
• Ensure the goalkeeper has a realistic starting position.
Where it fits
Soccer coaching plans you can take straight on to the field www.bettersoccercoaching.com
Players are passing the ball at top speed. From The Ultimate Football Warm-Ups Manual, exercise 90
The midfielders pass into the space behind the defence for the forward to run on to
Regaining the ball and passing early into the space behind the defence, or into the forward’s feet
On regaining possession, quicker passes are played into the forwards
Gentle jogging and stretching exercises
Individual skills: Defending skills, passing,
movement off the ball, shooting, hold up play
Team skills: Defending as a team,
communication, movement off the ball,
combination play in attack
Ball
Balls, cones, goal and poles or mannequins
Balls, cones, a goal and poles or mannequins
Balls, cones and a goal
n/a
Defenders often squeeze high up the pitch when their
team is attacking. If your players can stop an attack, they
have the opportunity to capitalise on the space behind
the opposition defence. The key is in the quality of the
forward pass and movement from your attackers to
break the offside trap.
Tactics
direction of run passrun with ball shot
35yards
25yards
30 yards
35yards
25yards
30 yards
1 2
3
Set-up
Have your defenders, or mannequins, 35 yards to
40 yards from goal.
The server passes the ball into the midfielder, who
must take a quick touch to receive and then play
a pass behind the defence (mannequin) for the
forward to run on to.
Forwards must ensure they disguise their runs and
stay onside in order to get in behind the defence
and score.
Create a 60 yards 40 yards playing area.
What you get your players to do
What to call out
Squeeze and stretch
www.bettersoccercoaching.com
Game situation
Play a normal game with the following rule. On
regaining possession, players must immediately
look to pass to one of their forwards – whether in
the space behind the defence, or into the forward’s
feet.
Development
• Include a 25 yards by 30 yards grid within the larger playing area for the development.
• Develop these skills in a small-sided game starting in the smaller playing area.
• The white team attempt to keep possession in the small area (second picture right).
• If the grey team win possession it looks to play a quick pass beyond the opposition defence for
their forward to run on to and shoot.
• Develop further by instructing the forward to receive the ball to feet, forcing a midfielder to
make run behind the defence to add a new
attacking option (third picture right).
• “React to winning possession”
• “Look to pass into the space behind the defence”
• “Look to run into the space behind the defence”
The grey team dispossesses the white team and play their forward behind the defence.
The grey team now plays into the forward’s feet and a midfielder runs in behind to receive a pass and score.
The midfielder plays a quick pass behind the defence for the forward to run on to and score.
SmartSessionsReady made soccer coaching plans
Three zone attack
What you tell your players the session is about
What to think about
1. Improving team attacking
2. Gaining half a yard to shoot at goal.
3. Dribbling into the final third of the pitch.
4. Making forward runs off the ball.
Warm up Session Developments Game Warm down
10 mins 15 mins 15 mins 15 mins 5 mins
Warm up
The session
Development
Game
Warm down
Activity Kit Outcome
Session planner
The three games look to improve the team’s variety
of attacks.
• Game 1 improves the players’ ability to find half a yard and shoot from the edge of the penalty
area. It also improves other players’ reactions to
attacking or defending a rebound.
• Game 2 allows players the chance to show disguise by pretending to shoot, and then use
skill to beat a defender and dribble into the
penalty area to score.
• Game 3 develops the attack as players find space to shoot or dribble. Now they pass the
ball and look to make forward runs beyond the
defence to receive a return pass and shoot.
Where it fits
Soccer coaching plans you can take straight on to the field www.bettersoccercoaching.com
Individual skills: Shooting, passing, dribbling,
running off the ball, clever play
Team skills: Combination play, movement off
the ball, communication
Balls
Balls, cones, bibs and two goals Balls, cones, bibs and two goals Balls, cones, bibs and two goals n/a
This session improves your team’s attacking play
through a series of small-sided games. These take place
on a pitch divided into three playing zones, allowing you
to set different conditions for the players to create goal
scoring chances.
Improved movement skills and speed changes. From The Ultimate Football Warm-Ups Manual, exercise 87 Players are now shooting at every opportunity and reacting to rebounds Players are dribbling and beating defenders to score Players are now passing to the forward and making supporting runs to score Gentle jogging and stretching exercises
Tactics
player movement pass
run with ball shot
1v1
Set-up
This game is played in the central zone. Players
must pass quickly or use skill to gain half a yard
before shooting.
The range of shots will be from between 18
yards and 36 yards, so players will be working on
shooting from distance.
When a shot is on target, one defender and one
attacker may run into the end zone to deal with
rebounds.
Create a 54 yards by 30 yards playing area, divided
into three 18 yards by 30 yards zones. Have a
goal at either end with goalkeepers. Divide outfield
players into 5v5.
What you get your players to do
What to call out
Three zone attack
www.bettersoccercoaching.com
Game situation
Remove the defender and place a forward in each
end zone. Players can now shoot from the central
zone, show disguise and dribble, or pass to the
forward and make a supporting run to receive a
return pass in order to shoot.
Development
Progress the game by placing a defender in each
team’s end zone. Players can now shoot from the
central zone or dribble into the end zone to create
a 1v1 with the defender.
This game will provide the attacker with the option
of pretending to shoot before showing disguise
and dribbling into the end zone to score.
• “Be clever with your movement.”
• “Find a half yard and shoot.”
• “Pass quickly to disorganise the defence.”
Players can either shoot or dribble out of the central zone for a 1v1 with the defender in the end zone.
Passes are made to the target forward, who looks for a support player. This forward runner receives a pass and shoots.
Players look to create space for a shot from the central zone. An attacker and defender can enter the end zones to contest rebounds.