U22 Soccer Drills
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Soccer Tactics
Pressing and preventing counterattack - Barcelona FC
Pressing - Simplified game to train pressing and prevent counterattack
Pass
Sequence of passes: depth and support
Sequence of passes: depth and support
Pass - Passing sequence with rotation movements and depth attack by players
3 versus 2
Conquer field: 3 v 2
Conquer field: 3 v 2
3 versus 2 - 3 v 2 numerical superiority situation for driving the ball in the end zone with transitions
Depth
Rondo 4 vs 2: Striker gets away from marker
Rondo 4 vs 2: Striker gets away from marker
Depth - Preparatory drill for the seek of depth through striker's cuts
Pressing
Pressing and preventing counterattack - Barcelona FC
Pressing and preventing counterattack - Barcelona FC
Pressing - Simplified game to train pressing and prevent counterattack
Positioning
3 v 2 with forward’s cut
3 v 2 with forward’s cut
Positioning - 3 v 2 situation with defensive movement and “open” ball handling by defenders and work on cutting movement and attacking depth for forwards
Possession
8 v 8 ball possession plus 3 neutral players
8 v 8 ball possession plus 3 neutral players
Possession - Conditioned game to train ball possession and cognitive skills in numerical superiority situation
2v1
Lateral 2 v 1 situation: countermovements and body positioning of the defender
Lateral 2 v 1 situation: countermovements and body positioning of the defender
2v1 - Lateral 2 v 1 situation that allows to focus on the timing and unmarking movements of the wing
Strength
Building strenght in the youth sector
Building strenght in the youth sector
Strength - How to build strength under natural load in young people with the ball by combining technique and conditioning activities
Passing
Quick diagonal passes
Quick diagonal passes
Passing - Technical circuit to improve quick combinations between players
Possession
Ball possession 4 v 4 + 3 - Manchester City FC
Ball possession 4 v 4 + 3 - Manchester City FC
Possession - Simplified game with numerical superiority to train ball possession
Depth
4-3-3: outside two-player combination and finalization
4-3-3: outside two-player combination and finalization
Depth - Offensive combination for attacking depth with a 2 v 1 on the opposing full-back
Depth
6 v 6 thematic match scoring in the end zone
6 v 6 thematic match scoring in the end zone
Depth - 6 v 6 tactical match with field divided into two horizontal zones
Passing
Passing and receiving: build-up by roles
Passing and receiving: build-up by roles
Passing - Passing sequences and movements to train the timing of movements and unmarking
Passing
Warm-up with passing sequences and conclusion
Warm-up with passing sequences and conclusion
Passing - Warm-up exercise with passing sequences and final shot on goal
Corner kick
Corner kick in favor with short play
Corner kick in favor with short play
Corner kick - Build-up from a corner kick with short play and subsequent block to free the player that shoots from outside the area
1v1
Rondo 3 v 1 plus 1 v 1 for finalization
Rondo 3 v 1 plus 1 v 1 for finalization
1v1 - Rondo 3 v 1, plus 1 v 1 situation on the lateral band for crossing into the box and finishing on goal
Peripheral vision
Cognitive skills - Barcelona FC
Cognitive skills - Barcelona FC
Peripheral vision - Train peripheral vision with an exercise suitable for each age group of the youth academy
Creating space
Conditioned game: insertion
Conditioned game: insertion
Creating space - Conditioned game to improve space and insertion time
Possession
7 v 4 thematic match with build-ups from the back for finishing on goal
7 v 4 thematic match with build-ups from the back for finishing on goal
Possession - Thematic match of defenders and midfielders against offensive players to build the play with finishing on goal and transitions
Passing
Analytical exercise for ball transmission sequences plus 1 v 1
Analytical exercise for ball transmission sequences plus 1 v 1
Passing - Four-player passing sequences with triangulations and final 1 v 1 situation with precision shot or ball driving
Anaerobic lactic
Small-Sided Game in offensive superiority
Small-Sided Game in offensive superiority
Anaerobic lactic - SSG to be offered in multiple age groups by applying due consideration (number of sets and repetitions, size of the field, number of players, increased attention to joint mobility and endurance)
Running with the ball
Robin Hood: driving the ball at speed - Ajax AFC
Robin Hood: driving the ball at speed - Ajax AFC
Running with the ball - Driving the ball at speed with fun elements for players
Depth
Thematic match: attacking depth quickly
Thematic match: attacking depth quickly
Depth - Thematic match with restarts, fast transitions, quick verticalizations to attack opponent's goal
Education
Introduction to bio-banding and its scientific basis
Introduction to bio-banding and its scientific basis
Education - What is bio-banding? What is the theoretical basis of bio-banding? How do we identify the stages of growth in soccer players? Let's find that out in this article.
Mobility
Pinball
Pinball
Mobility - In this popular game you train motor skills, strength, mobility and endurance that will affect the growth of the soccer player
1v1
Duels 1 v 1 with a pass - Valencia CF
Duels 1 v 1 with a pass - Valencia CF
1v1 - 1 v 1 situations to train positioning, dribbling and tackling a frontal attack
Dribbling
Dribbling in different size spaces
Dribbling in different size spaces
Dribbling - Improve dribbling and close control in spaces of different sizes
Shooting
Competition of shots on goal
Competition of shots on goal
Shooting - Team challenge on shots on goal with different types of stops and ball control
Basic motor skills
Motor-cognitive circuit with 1 v 1 challenge
Motor-cognitive circuit with 1 v 1 challenge
Basic motor skills - Motor station with cognitive inputs to train speed and speed of processing in 1 v 1
Passing
Technical warm-up - Peripheral vision, passing and running with the ball
Technical warm-up - Peripheral vision, passing and running with the ball
Passing - Improve players' technique by also stimulating peripheral vision
1v1
Quick 1 v 1 with shot on goal
Quick 1 v 1 with shot on goal
1v1 - Practice for fast ball driving and goal shooting with 1 v 1 situation (attack and defend)
Dribbling
Running with the ball performing feints and shooting at goal
Running with the ball performing feints and shooting at goal
Dribbling - Ball control with dribbling and shooting trying a running technique
Passing
Basics of one-touch passing - Atalanta Calcio
Basics of one-touch passing - Atalanta Calcio
Passing - Building the foundation for proper one-touch triangulation
Running with the ball
Ball control: Observe and occupy spaces
Ball control: Observe and occupy spaces
Running with the ball - Exercise running with the ball and controlling it with differentiation and orientation skills
2v2
2 v 2: Get out of high press and attack quickly
2 v 2: Get out of high press and attack quickly
2v2 - 2 v 2 game situation with defender's high pressing for ball recovery
Running with the ball
Basic motor skills and cognitive: The spoils
Basic motor skills and cognitive: The spoils
Running with the ball - Cognitive drill with the ball for Youth Academies
Running with the ball
Game: Numbered squares corner
Game: Numbered squares corner
Running with the ball - Game proposal for basic activity to train carrying the ball inside a square
Passing
Decision making ability: under pressure passes
Decision making ability: under pressure passes
Passing - Exercise to train quick decision making under pressure
Education
The importance of intellectual stimulations
The importance of intellectual stimulations
Education - Raise a "thinking player" thanks to many stimuli offered by futsal playing situations
Tactical
YouCoachApp: the session planning software for your coaching philosophy
YouCoachApp: the session planning software for your coaching philosophy
Tactical - YouCoachApp helps every soccer coach in the organization of the seasonal and weekly planning. Let’s see how you can use it to respect the season-plan provided by the U.S. Soccer Curriculum and how can you customize it
Creating space
Receiving behind the opponent's back - Marcelo Bielsa
Receiving behind the opponent's back - Marcelo Bielsa
Creating space - Analytical drill by Marcelo Bielsa to train the forward to lure the opponent out of their zone and then exploit the space created
Passing
Quick diagonal passes
Quick diagonal passes
Passing - Technical circuit to improve quick combinations between players
Passing
Combination of out-in-out passes - Diego Pablo Simeone
Combination of out-in-out passes - Diego Pablo Simeone
Passing - Diego Pablo Simeone's exercise: sequence of ball passing with combination of passes between several players
Anaerobic lactic
Small-Sided Game in offensive superiority
Small-Sided Game in offensive superiority
Anaerobic lactic - SSG to be offered in multiple age groups by applying due consideration (number of sets and repetitions, size of the field, number of players, increased attention to joint mobility and endurance)
Education
Attention: Is it my problem?
Attention: Is it my problem?
Education - Kids are often labeled as energetic, rowdy, distracted when in reality the problem could be the way we communicate and manage practices
Education
Effective communication between the coach and the team: Obstacles and strategies to promote a constructive dialogue - Part 1
Effective communication between the coach and the team: Obstacles and strategies to promote a constructive dialogue - Part 1
Education - Communication between the coach and the team is not a spontaneous process, it requires the right approach and constant effort
Education
Introduction to bio-banding and its scientific basis
Introduction to bio-banding and its scientific basis
Education - What is bio-banding? What is the theoretical basis of bio-banding? How do we identify the stages of growth in soccer players? Let's find that out in this article.
Nutrition
Are food supplements useful? When and how to use them
Are food supplements useful? When and how to use them
Nutrition - Is it necessary to use food supplements in sports? Let's dive into this increasingly popular topic
Nutrition
Nutritional Strategies In Half Time
Nutritional Strategies In Half Time
Nutrition - What foods are recommended to obtain a good performance in the second half? The nutritionist’s advice
Education
Muscle cramps: What they are and what to do when they occur
Muscle cramps: What they are and what to do when they occur
Education - Cramps are quite frequent on soccer fields and affect both professional and amateur players: why do they occur and how can you deal with them?
Education
Skeletal muscle tissue: what is it and how does it work?
Skeletal muscle tissue: what is it and how does it work?
Education - This brief text describes the striated skeletal muscle, i.e., the muscle that permits movement!
Attacking Principles
4-3-3 - Attacking development to shooting
4-3-3 - Attacking development to shooting
Attacking Principles - Combination proposal to get to shooting after a rejection by an opponent defender
Game construction for 4-3-3 system: Holding Midfielder free to play and Side Midfielder centralizing
Playing out from the back - Game construction proposal for 4-3-3 system with Holding Midfielder free to play and Internal Midfielder's insertion
Match Analysis
The importance of marking in the defensive phase
The importance of marking in the defensive phase
Match Analysis - The Chukwueze-Zalewski case in AC Milan vs FC Inter match
Match Analysis
Leicester vs Tottenham: a tactical analysis
Leicester vs Tottenham: a tactical analysis
Match Analysis - How Leicester capitalized on Tottenham’s defensive lapses and dynamic transitions to create offensive threats
Corner kick
Corner kick in favor with short play
Corner kick in favor with short play
Corner kick - Build-up from a corner kick with short play and subsequent block to free the player that shoots from outside the area
Indirect free kick
Lateral free kick: long ball on the second post
Lateral free kick: long ball on the second post
Indirect free kick - Game plan for lateral free kick with zone defense
Goalkeeping
Ball possession with passback to the goalkeeper
Ball possession with passback to the goalkeeper
Goalkeeping - Exercise about possession with the objective of passing to goalkeeper, who defends their area learning to participate actively in the game with teammates
Pass
Sequence of passes: depth and support
Sequence of passes: depth and support
Pass - Passing sequence with rotation movements and depth attack by players
3 versus 2
Conquer field: 3 v 2
Conquer field: 3 v 2
3 versus 2 - 3 v 2 numerical superiority situation for driving the ball in the end zone with transitions
Depth
Rondo 4 vs 2: Striker gets away from marker
Rondo 4 vs 2: Striker gets away from marker
Depth - Preparatory drill for the seek of depth through striker's cuts
Pressing
Pressing and preventing counterattack - Barcelona FC
Pressing and preventing counterattack - Barcelona FC
Pressing - Simplified game to train pressing and prevent counterattack
Positioning
3 v 2 with forward’s cut
3 v 2 with forward’s cut
Positioning - 3 v 2 situation with defensive movement and “open” ball handling by defenders and work on cutting movement and attacking depth for forwards
Possession
8 v 8 ball possession plus 3 neutral players
8 v 8 ball possession plus 3 neutral players
Possession - Conditioned game to train ball possession and cognitive skills in numerical superiority situation
2v1
Lateral 2 v 1 situation: countermovements and body positioning of the defender
Lateral 2 v 1 situation: countermovements and body positioning of the defender
2v1 - Lateral 2 v 1 situation that allows to focus on the timing and unmarking movements of the wing
Strength
Building strenght in the youth sector
Building strenght in the youth sector
Strength - How to build strength under natural load in young people with the ball by combining technique and conditioning activities
Passing
Quick diagonal passes
Quick diagonal passes
Passing - Technical circuit to improve quick combinations between players
Possession
Ball possession 4 v 4 + 3 - Manchester City FC
Ball possession 4 v 4 + 3 - Manchester City FC
Possession - Simplified game with numerical superiority to train ball possession
Depth
4-3-3: outside two-player combination and finalization
4-3-3: outside two-player combination and finalization
Depth - Offensive combination for attacking depth with a 2 v 1 on the opposing full-back
Depth
6 v 6 thematic match scoring in the end zone
6 v 6 thematic match scoring in the end zone
Depth - 6 v 6 tactical match with field divided into two horizontal zones
Passing
Passing and receiving: build-up by roles
Passing and receiving: build-up by roles
Passing - Passing sequences and movements to train the timing of movements and unmarking
Passing
Warm-up with passing sequences and conclusion
Warm-up with passing sequences and conclusion
Passing - Warm-up exercise with passing sequences and final shot on goal
Corner kick
Corner kick in favor with short play
Corner kick in favor with short play
Corner kick - Build-up from a corner kick with short play and subsequent block to free the player that shoots from outside the area
1v1
Rondo 3 v 1 plus 1 v 1 for finalization
Rondo 3 v 1 plus 1 v 1 for finalization
1v1 - Rondo 3 v 1, plus 1 v 1 situation on the lateral band for crossing into the box and finishing on goal
Peripheral vision
Cognitive skills - Barcelona FC
Cognitive skills - Barcelona FC
Peripheral vision - Train peripheral vision with an exercise suitable for each age group of the youth academy
Creating space
Conditioned game: insertion
Conditioned game: insertion
Creating space - Conditioned game to improve space and insertion time
Possession
7 v 4 thematic match with build-ups from the back for finishing on goal
7 v 4 thematic match with build-ups from the back for finishing on goal
Possession - Thematic match of defenders and midfielders against offensive players to build the play with finishing on goal and transitions
Passing
Analytical exercise for ball transmission sequences plus 1 v 1
Analytical exercise for ball transmission sequences plus 1 v 1
Passing - Four-player passing sequences with triangulations and final 1 v 1 situation with precision shot or ball driving
Anaerobic lactic
Small-Sided Game in offensive superiority
Small-Sided Game in offensive superiority
Anaerobic lactic - SSG to be offered in multiple age groups by applying due consideration (number of sets and repetitions, size of the field, number of players, increased attention to joint mobility and endurance)
Running with the ball
Robin Hood: driving the ball at speed - Ajax AFC
Robin Hood: driving the ball at speed - Ajax AFC
Running with the ball - Driving the ball at speed with fun elements for players
Depth
Thematic match: attacking depth quickly
Thematic match: attacking depth quickly
Depth - Thematic match with restarts, fast transitions, quick verticalizations to attack opponent's goal
Education
Introduction to bio-banding and its scientific basis
Introduction to bio-banding and its scientific basis
Education - What is bio-banding? What is the theoretical basis of bio-banding? How do we identify the stages of growth in soccer players? Let's find that out in this article.
Mobility
Pinball
Pinball
Mobility - In this popular game you train motor skills, strength, mobility and endurance that will affect the growth of the soccer player
1v1
Duels 1 v 1 with a pass - Valencia CF
Duels 1 v 1 with a pass - Valencia CF
1v1 - 1 v 1 situations to train positioning, dribbling and tackling a frontal attack
Dribbling
Dribbling in different size spaces
Dribbling in different size spaces
Dribbling - Improve dribbling and close control in spaces of different sizes
Shooting
Competition of shots on goal
Competition of shots on goal
Shooting - Team challenge on shots on goal with different types of stops and ball control
Basic motor skills
Motor-cognitive circuit with 1 v 1 challenge
Motor-cognitive circuit with 1 v 1 challenge
Basic motor skills - Motor station with cognitive inputs to train speed and speed of processing in 1 v 1
Passing
Technical warm-up - Peripheral vision, passing and running with the ball
Technical warm-up - Peripheral vision, passing and running with the ball
Passing - Improve players' technique by also stimulating peripheral vision
1v1
Quick 1 v 1 with shot on goal
Quick 1 v 1 with shot on goal
1v1 - Practice for fast ball driving and goal shooting with 1 v 1 situation (attack and defend)
Dribbling
Running with the ball performing feints and shooting at goal
Running with the ball performing feints and shooting at goal
Dribbling - Ball control with dribbling and shooting trying a running technique
Passing
Basics of one-touch passing - Atalanta Calcio
Basics of one-touch passing - Atalanta Calcio
Passing - Building the foundation for proper one-touch triangulation
Running with the ball
Ball control: Observe and occupy spaces
Ball control: Observe and occupy spaces
Running with the ball - Exercise running with the ball and controlling it with differentiation and orientation skills
2v2
2 v 2: Get out of high press and attack quickly
2 v 2: Get out of high press and attack quickly
2v2 - 2 v 2 game situation with defender's high pressing for ball recovery
Running with the ball
Basic motor skills and cognitive: The spoils
Basic motor skills and cognitive: The spoils
Running with the ball - Cognitive drill with the ball for Youth Academies
Running with the ball
Game: Numbered squares corner
Game: Numbered squares corner
Running with the ball - Game proposal for basic activity to train carrying the ball inside a square