CONTROL
SHOOTING
PASSING
DRIBBLING
TURNING
HEADING
CREATE SPACE
INDIVIDUAL DEFENDING
SUPPORT PLAY
GOALKEEPING
CROSSING
TACKLING
THE THROW IN
ATTACKING SET PLAYS
DEFENDING SET PLAYS
THE FREE KICK
CONTROL
Please select a subsection from the topics below :

 A basic introduction    Inside of the foot    Extending Control  
  Swivelling with the ball     in tight situations    
Running with the ball Running with the ball (close control)
Running with the ball (changing pace)
Running with the ball (control) Running with the ball (to score)
Running with the ball (to score cont.)
Running with the ball (central)
Running with the ball (circuit training)
Movement off the ball Movement off the ball cont.
Movement off the ball (passing & moving)
Movement off the ball (switching play in defence)
Switch play in defence (progression)
Switching play in centre field
Switching play in the attacking third of the field
Switching play (in attack) continued - around the penalty area
Switching play in attack around the penalty area (continued)
Adding Defenders: Switching play continued
Developing the reverse Pass Playing back to goal (turning)
Turning and Finishing I II III Playing with back to goal I
II III IV V Making decisions II III IV
Progression Shadow play I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX The Short Corner The Short Corner 2 The Short Corner 3 The Short Corner 4 The Short Corner 5 Defending against a short corner (1) Defending against a short corner (2) Defending against a short corner (3) Defending against a short corner (4) The throw in (1) The throw in (2) The throw in (3) Defending at a throw in

Players learning to make decisions

It is important for all players to be able to evaluate the play, have real vision and see what options are open.

This requires some experience, but the earlier (in age) players start the better. All the skills and techniques described in earlier practices have to be used in the context of the game, and there are practices that help develop players to take in the whole picture and make decisions.

Practice (1)


The players (P’s) line up approximately 20 meters around the area as in diagram (1), two footballs
The practice is for players to run with their ball across the area and then pass to a free player
On receiving the ball the free player, runs round the outside of one of the players next to him before running across the circle. In diagram (1) (P1) runs across and replaces (P6), who collects the ball runs round the back of (P7) before running across to deliver to (P4).
While this is going on (P5) runs across to (P2), who runs round (P3) then goes across to (P7).

COACHES SHOULD INSIST ON: -

Quality of running with the ball
A good collect and first touch
Good quality of delivery when passing the ball on
Correct body position when receiving
Players looking up and around to see available options