All weeks

Week 3: attacking moves

Rec practice for Wednesday, September 23. Focus is attacking moves, and it carries into week 4.

Print view
  1. Group warm-upDirector runs it. Get stuck in and keep them dribbling.
  2. Fun game, or straight to skill workNot in the plan. Pick a game or skip it.
  3. Skill workFree dribble, then dribble out to the box and the flag.
  4. 1v0 attacking movesThree options, little or no pressure.
  5. Attacking 1v1sThree 1v1 games. Mix and match.
  6. 3v3 in three zonesOptional. Better for the older groups.
1

Group warm-up

Group warm-up again this week and next. Engage the kids during it: help with the footwork and keep them dribbling.

What to work on in the warm-up

Box dribble

Walk the ball around a square with small touches, keeping it close.

Rollies

Roll the ball across with the sole, then take it the other way.

Inside-outside touches

Push the ball with the inside, then the outside of the same foot.

Use the outside of the foot more, and move away from toe taps. Add complex moves in your own group if they're ready for them.

2

Fun game, or straight to skill work

No fun game in this week's plan. Either find one or jump straight into the skill work — your call.

PlayersCoach or defenderConePlayer runsPass, throw, or shot
Option A

Freeze tag

F
Frozen players stand with their legs apart

When a player is frozen they stand with their legs apart, and the others dribble through their legs to unfreeze them.

Open this drill on its own →

Option B

Smear the dribbler (safe version)

One or two balls for the whole group
  • 1 or 2 balls

A safe version of smear the dribbler: one or two balls, and every player tries to keep the ball as long as they can. King or queen of the hill.

Open this drill on its own →

3

Skill work

PlayersCoach or defenderConePlayer runsPass, throw, or shot
Every player has a ball, dribbling in open space
  • All players
  • Ball for each player
  1. Review a ball mastery skill together (start with simple toe taps).
  2. Players dribble in open space, avoiding each other.
  3. Every 15+ seconds, have the players stop the ball and perform the skill again.
  4. Rotate the mastery skill: taps, then boxers, then dribbling in a circle with the inside of the foot.

As play progresses

Introduce drag turns (simple pull backs) and jump over turns, where players stop the ball, jump over it, turn around, and start dribbling again.

Open this drill on its own →

BOXFLAG12
Setup 1: dribble to the box in the middle
  • 4 or more players
  • Ball for each player
  • No goals

Set up for 1 and 2 are the same.

Setup 1

  1. Dribble to the box in the middle.
  2. Turn and dribble back.
  3. Use simple mastery touches and moves.

Setup 2

Dribble to the flag, make an attacking move, and dribble to the other side.

Open this drill on its own →

4

1v0 attacking moves

Three ways to work on attacking moves with no pressure, or very little.

Pick an option

  • 2 or more players
  • 0 to 2 goals
12
Dribble at the cone

1v0: move around the cone

  1. Dribble at a cone and make a move around it.
  2. Then dribble to the back of the other line, or pass to the next player.
  3. The pattern repeats.

No pressure here. This is about the move itself, done cleanly and at pace.

5

Attacking 1v1s

Three simple 1v1 games. Mix and match how you want them to play.

Pick a game

  • 2 or more players
  • 1 to 4 goals
AD
Attacker starts on the ball

Attacking 1: 1v1 to a goal

A simple attacker starting with the ball, dribbling to a goal against a defender.

Mix and match the three attacking games however you want them to play.

6

3v3 in three zones

Three zones, and defenders stay in theirs
  • 6 players minimum
  • 2 goals
  • Field split into 3 zones
  1. Play 3v3 across 3 zones — or 3v1, three times.
  2. Defenders must stay in their zone.
  3. Attacking players work the ball through each zone to score.
  4. If they score, they get a new ball and play the opposite direction.

Restrict each zone to suit your topic

  • Two touch in the defensive and midfield zones, unlimited in the attacking zone.
  • Goals must be one touch.
  • Every player must touch the ball in each zone before scoring.

Roles switch when

The attackers kick the ball out of bounds (side or endline), or a defender wins the ball and completes a pass to a teammate in a different zone.

Another transition option

Depending on numbers: when the ball is out or turned over, play stops, the three defenders move to the middle zone and become the attackers, and three new players join as defenders. The attacking team tries to stay on the field as long as possible.

The director flagged this one as better for the older groups — younger players may not pick the rules up.

Open this drill on its own →