Soccer Drills, coachbetter, Jamal Musiala, FC Bayern Munich
coaching zone

Soccer drills: First to the ball

You can work speed, technique and finishing all in one exercise.

First to the ball:

Here is an amazing soccer drill you can do during your hardest day of work during the week. You can work speed, technique and finishing all in one exercise. This drill will also be fun since it will allow your players to compete against each other and therefore bring the intensity up. Don't forget to involve properly the keepers as well.

Activity flow:

1. One player per group starts out in the middle next to the coach (pictured here blue #1 and green #2)

2. Another player from each team is positioned on each corner of the penalty area (blue #3 and green #4)

3. The coach begins by passing towards the goal

4. The players next to the coach race after the pass and the first player to reach the ball passes to the goalkeeper

5. The goalkeeper passes to the teammate of the player who made the pass (shown here blue #3), who then takes a shot

Organization:

1. Set up a playing field as wide as the penalty area

2. Divide the field into two zones

3. Two goals with goalkeepers

4. Six cones5. Extra balls with the coach

Coaching points:

1. Quick reactions to visual cues

2. Short, explosive dribbling at maximum speed

3. Quick and light-footed changes of direction

4. Do an intensive warm-up before this exercise

Variations:

1. Make it a competition:

a. First to the ball = one point

b. Scoring a goal = two points

Duration:

  • 15 mn

Age:

  • U11 - U16

Number of players:

  • min: 6
coaching zone

Never miss any news again!

Sign up for the best resources in football. You can expect exercises, news, feature updates and announcements. The newsletter is sent out once a week.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
4-3-2-1 Formation, Carlo Ancelotti
coaching zone

Defensive Compactness through the 4-3-2-1 System

The 4-3-2-1 formation, also known as the “Christmas tree,” provides maximum compactness in the center of the pitch and is used by teams that want to force their opponents to play on the wings.

Posted on 
September 1, 2023
Pep Guardiola, Build-Up Play, Pressing
coaching zone

Football Tactics: Build-up Play in the Face of Pressing

Football Tactics: Build-up Play in the Face of Pressing: Information is key.

Posted on 
September 1, 2023
Jürgen Klopp, Coaching
coaching zone

Offensive Variability through the 4-3-3 System

The 4-3-3 system is played by many professional teams in the Champions League and international leagues. It is probably the most common playing system at the moment.

Posted on 
September 1, 2023
Newsletter

Stay up-to-date!

Sign up for the best resources in football. You can expect exercises, news, feature updates and announcements. The newsletter is sent out once a week.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.