All Training Sessions

U10 thru Adult 2 Player Ladder Cone Passing Exercise
Setup a 20 x 30 yard area with 3 cones centered in the area about 5 yards apart from each other. This is a 2 player exercise, partner up and find an open area on the field.

8v4 Possession Exercise Dan Blank 31 Stage II Small Sided
Setup a grid 30 x 20 yards, adjust the size of the grid for style of play. Divide players into three teams of 4 players each. One team is yellow, another is blue, and the third team is red. To start, red and blue play keep-away from yellow.

Triangular Passing, Receiving, and Shooting from Distance
Half a normal field with1 full sized goal. Set 4 cones as shown in the diagram so players maintain proper spacing during the exercise. Shoot from outside the 18 (penalty area), low shots on frame. Passing short-short-long.

High to Low Possession Passing Attack and Shooting
This is an advanced attacking game for developing the tactical concept of a high to low player combination. Recommended for skilled players with good passing abilities (U14 and older).

1v1 Training with Goalkeepers
This is a 1v1 training game with goalkeepers. It can be played with 1 or 2 goals and between 8-24 players (with 16 players or more and you'll need to setup 2 goals). You can choose to focus your coaching tips on either attacking moves and beating the defender, defender body positioning and winning possession, or goalkeeper position and techniques.

Service from Goal Line
As a coach don't you hate it when a player dribbles deep into the opponents penalty area near the goal line, then attempts shooting from a nearly impossible angle? I do, especially when there is a teammate waiting near the penalty spot, in the perfect position, with a clean line of sight on an open goal, but the ball is never passed back to them. This training exercise should help your attackers (and defenders) in this game situation.

Triangular Passing, Receiving, and Shooting
This activity is designed to help your team pass and shoot.

Unopposed Speed Passing Shooting
Great exercise that combines several different skills: quick sprint to start, running onto and taking a stationary ball, passing and receiving, shooting and crashing the goal for rebounds.

Stage II Square Passing and Receiving, Shooting, Goalkeeper Blocking
This is a Stage II activity designed for the entire team to participate including your goalkeeper. You will need one full sized goal and an area at least 30 x 40 yards and some cones to setup the training environment.

Diamond Passing and Receiving, Shooting, Goalkeeper Blocking
This is a Stage II activity designed for the entire team to participate including your goalkeeper. You will need one full sized goal and an area at least 30 x 40 yards and some cones to setup the training environment.

U12-Adult Point Zone Game Thru Ball Passing
This is a fun passing game that requires a perfectly weighed pass into a small area in order to score.

3D Warm-Up Diagonal Alternating Touches and Speed
This warm-up demands a lot of performance and requires proficiency in many skills in order be executed with quality..

Warm-Up Short Passing, Dynamic Stretching, and Dribbling Moves
Warm-Up Short Passing, Dynamic Stretching, and Dribbling Moves

X-Pattern 1-Touch Passing
Great exercise for possession teams looking to improve their 1-touch passing within a small area with a lot of player movement at the same time. Try with 1 ball to begin then add 2 or even 3 balls into the passing sequence.

Zonal Defending Session Stage I Warm-Up
Zonal Defending Session Stage I Warm-Up

Warm-Up Circle 1-Touch Passing and Dynamic Stretching
Warm-Up Circle 1-Touch Passing and Dynamic Stretching

Zonal Defending Stage II Small Sided Activity
Zonal defense in the top half track the attackers movement and pass-on responsibility.

Goalkeeping Shot Blocking Stage I Warm-Up
Ball catching and distribution using the hands and 3 different throwing techniques: under arm bowl, javelin throw, and over arm bowl.

Goalkeeping Shot Blocking Stage II Small Sided Activity
20 x 20 yard area with 1 full sized goal. 4 or more soccer balls, goalkeeper gloves and 2-4 players. Shooting from off the foot: provide a variety of shot stopping activities from the ground up towards and over the head.

Goalkeeping Shot Blocking Stage III Expanded Activity
40 x 40 yard area with 2 full sized goals at each end. 2 goalkeepers and 6-12 field players.

Goalkeeping Shot Blocking Stage IV Game
30 x 30 yard area with 2 full sized goals. At least 6 soccer balls or more. 2 goalkeepers and 8-12 field players. Game is played 2 v 2 with 2 goalkeepers.

Defending Topic Preventing Counter Attack Stage I Warm-Up Activity
Defending Topic Preventing Counter Attack Stage I Warm-Up Activity

Defending Topic Preventing the Counter Attack Stage II Activity
Defending Topic Preventing the Counter Attack Stage II Activity

Defending Topic Preventing the Counter Attack Stage III Expanded
Defending Topic Preventing the Counter Attack Stage III Expanded

Stage IV Match 7v7 on Half Field with Full Sized Goals
Scrimmage game, game play without interrupting, use natural stoppages or coach in the flow, cover coaching points when players are resting.

Attacking Topic Building Up from Defensive Half Stage I Warm-Up
50 by 50 yard area, group players into 4 per group. Each group will use an area of about 15 yards. You don't need any equipment or cones just a few soccer balls. This is a simple passing warm-up with dynamic stretching, although you could make the passing very technical, read "Variations" in the PDF.

Attacking Topic Building Up from Defensive Half Stage II Small Activity
30 x 30 yd. area and 10 players (4 red, 4 blue and 2 orange neutral players). 8-12 regular size cones and 12 large cones used for goals or use PUGG goals. Objective: penetrate under control and then dribble or pass thru goals.

Attacking Topic Building Up from Defensive Half Stage III Expanded Activity
Playing by the numbers this is a 6 v 4 directional to goal activity. Players 2,3,4,5 should maintain possession then pass up to 6 and 8. Half field, 2 full sized goals, 10 field players and 2 goalkeepers. 8-12 balls, colored vests.

Defending Speed Forward and Shuffling Backwards
You will need a 10 yard by 25 yard area and 8-10 cones per station (3-4 players per station). Set 2 cones (shown in blue) roughly 2ft. apart, this is where each player will begin. Next set 1 target cone (shown in orange) 20-25 yards away from the beginning 2 cones. Finally stagger 5-6 cones (shown in yellow) 5 yards apart.

Quick Transition Game 1v1, 2v2, or 3v3 with Goalkeeper
Setup an area 40 x 40 yards. Place a full sized goal at one end and two 6ft. mini goals on the opposite side. Divide players into 2 teams, this way when you expand into 2v2 and/or 3v3 players will already have vests on.