U14 week 2

Across The Midfield

  • ✅20 x 30 yd playing area

    ✅5 yd wide end zone marked by cones

    ✅ Split into 2 teams and pair up evenly-matched players

    ✅ attacker starts in an end zone, defender starts on center line

    ✅1 x ⚽ per pair

  • The Attacker attempts to dribble the ball from one end zone to the other.

    🏆LEVEL 1 - 🕜60 secs per rep

    ✅Attacker gets 1 point for getting into the opposite end zone.

    ✅Defender gets 1 point for a tackle.

    ✅Attacker gets the ball back if tackled

    ✅Switch attackers & defenders after the rep

    🏆LEVEL 2 - 🕜60 secs per rep

    ✅If the ball goes out, or the defender tackles, the ball switches to the other player.

    ✅The player who has the most points at the end, wins. 2 extra points for having the ball at the end of the rep.

    ✅Players find a new pair and repeat levels

    💡TIP - encourage players to use a skill to beat the player

    💡TIP - If players are considerably mismatched, change them at the end of the rep.

  • ✅ Allow the defender to go into the end zone

    ✅Create a team game - defenders can tackle any player

  • Driving through the midfield with the ball to go across the half-way line takes confidence and bravery that can create a goalscoring chance.

    When there is a space or a chance to break lines using a dribble, an attacker must be decisive and drive through into the space to get near the opposition goal

  • CONFIDENCE

    Be brave and use your skill in a 1v1

    DECISIVE

    Make your move, be bold and stick with it

    DETERMINATION

    Do not give up!

Team Movement

  • ✅ COMMUNICATION

    Working together needs a leader who communicates clearly!

    ✅ AWARENESS

    Where are your teammates? Are you in a good shape?

    ✅ TEAMWORK

    Get compact when defending and spread out going forward!

  • ✅35x45 yd field

    ✅Split into two teams of 5-9

    ✅Formation:

    - 5v5 - 1-2-1-1

    - 7v7 - 1-2-3-1

    - 9v9 - 1-3-3-2

    ✅Pinnies for both teams

    ✅No⚽

  • ✅This fun game used to develop cohesion as a team unit and build teamwork. A common, simple ‘soccer’ language is used so everyone understands.

    🏆LEVEL 1 - 🕜60 secs per rep

    ✅Coach calls:

    ⚽STEP (push out)

    ⚽DROP (fall back)

    ⚽SHIFT LEFT/RIGHT (move to side)

    ⚽HOLD (stay)

    ✅ Both teams move together

    🏆LEVEL 1.2

    ✅The coach stops at random points to give a point to the team in the best shape

    🏆LEVEL 2 - 🕜 60 secs per rep

    ✅A ‘Captain’ for each team is chosen to call out for BOTH teams to move in unison

    ✅Choose another Captain

    ✅Give points to best shape

    🏆LEVEL 3 - 🕜 60 secs per rep

    ✅A captain for each team is chosen and calls out the movement for their team only

    💡TIP - Ask a player who wants to be a Captain for the first couple of reps. Then see if you can get a less confident player to have a go

    💡TIP - The principles should mean that STEP means the players get ‘up’ the field but also spread out, and DROP means players drop back together and become compact.

    💡TIP - Soccer-like movement - SHIFT means players side-step, this means they can see the field and their teammates.

    💡TIP - Ask the players if they think they have a good shape and discuss

  • ✅Speed up the calls

    ✅Opposites - DROP means STEP, SHIFT LEFT means go RIGHT for fun and chaos

  • Movement as a unit, being organized - particularly defensively, means that the team can find success in winning the ball back.

    In a game, having a player(s) who are comfortable communicating, especially a defender or Goalkeeper who sees the whole field ahead of them, is a huge to success of a team

Semi-opposed passing

  • ✅ TEAM SHAPE

    Width and support to make space and get forward

    ✅ AWARENESS & COMMUNICATION

    Find the space and ask for the ball! Talk to teammates

    ✅ PASSING & RECEIVING TECHNIQUE

    Focus on good technique and body shape to move the ball efficiently

  • ✅35x45 yd field

    ✅split into two teams of 5-9

    ✅Formation:

    - 5v5 - 1-2-1-1

    - 7v7 - 1-2-3-1

    - 9v9 - 1-3-3-2

    ✅Pinnies for both teams

    ✅1 x ⚽ per team

  • 🏆LEVEL 1 - 🕜 2 min reps

    ✅Team with ball passes among themselves to the opposite GK within 7 passes. There must have fluid movement and the team must move up the field together.

    ✅The defending team put semi-opposed pressure on the team in possession (no tackling)

    ✅Repeat with the opposite team when the GK receives the ball with a quick transition

    🏆LEVEL 2 - 🕜 2 min reps

    ✅Both teams pass the ball to the opposite goal within 7 passes

    ✅Players can shoot at the opposite GK - keep a score of how many goals are scored

    💡TIP - Focus on team shape and being spread out with the ball and compact without the ball

  • ✅Change the restrictions on passes, try 5, or 10 passes

    ✅All players have to touch the ball

    ✅Create competition by having a race or points for good team shape

  • The principles of width and support are developed in this exercise. The team in possession should be aware of being wide (width or depth) and spreading out, to create space.

    Passing the ball into space are important to help unbalance and disorganize the defense in order to make it easier to move the ball closer to the opponent’s goal.

GAME TIME!

What you need:

✅ 1 x⚽

✅ 2 teams (different colors)

✅ 2 goals

✅ All the rules of the game - throwins, goal-kicks, corners, kickoffs and fouls. So they can practice for the weekend!

TIME TO PLAY! ⚽ Allow the players to have fun, be competitive, and express themselves. At this age, don’t impose too much structure. Don’t force passing or stop the play. Encourage and give positive comments on the goal of the session (dribbling) and coach sporadically as the game goes on.