Coaching players during COVID-19: part three

Session 1 - Wall pass

Organisation

• Two goalkeepers/servers and three players.
• Rotate players so they play in each position.

Session information

• Establish practice social distancing conditions and rules with players to ensure no misunderstanding takes place.
• Start the session with the goalkeeper/server.
• Players work through the mannequins by playing passes.

Coaching points

• Vary the type of pass as well as pace, power and purpose.
• Pass and receive off both feet.
• Timing of the pass is important.
• Angle and distance of supporting player.

Adaptations

• Vary the pass height/type of pass.
• Add a time limit.

Session 2 - Relay race

Organisation

• Set up a 20x20 yard area, as illustrated.
• Four players with a ball each.
• Two players working at a time, with two players resting.
• Players start in their own 'home gate', separated by an imaginary line that neither player can cross.
• Players begin dribbling through cones at pace.
• They complete a turn of their choice at their end cone.
• Finally they shoot at their target goal.
• Objective is to beat the other player and complete the relay first.
• Players have the opportunity to reverse the direction of play (tactical challenge) during the defined time (by coach) for practice.

Session information

• Establish practice social distancing conditions and rules with players to ensure no misunderstanding takes place.
• Set up area to relate to ability of players and can be adapted to suit more or less players where necessary.
• This basic activity will develop players’ ability to move quickly with the ball, under control, change direction and finish an attack under time pressure.
• It involves fine and gross motor movements as well as introducing an assessing and tactical element.

Coaching points

• Smaller/lighter touches around corners and accelerate out with a slightly bigger/heavier touch.
• Each player has opportunities to practice basic fundamentals that can be used at any time to catch partner (think tactically).
• Looking up to assess situation pro-actively and capitalise on opportunities that open up before making the action.
• Immediately before making the turn, players must check their shoulders and accelerate into the space once complete.
• Emphasis on foot-speed and clean contacts on the ball to change direction.
• Ensure player is aware of the goalkeeper's positioning and selects the correct type of finish.

Adaptations

• Include a defender to beat when attacking the goal (only when FA COVID-19 guidelines permit opposed practices).
• Change the size and shape of the organisation.
• Condition the type of turn to be practised including a Cruyff, drag-back, step-over.
• Condition the type of dribbling skills through the cones.
• Add a mannequin or passive defender in before the final action of a shot.

Session 3 - Chipping in

Organisation

• Five players - one goalkeeper, four attackers.
• Three circles are marked out with 2 metre gaps between them.
• Goalkeeper positioned in the centre circle.
• Attackers spread out in the second circle.
• Footballs placed in outer circle.
• To start, the attackers must go one at a time and run to the outside and chip the ball back into the goalkeeper's hands.

Session information

• Establish practice social distancing conditions and rules with players to ensure no misunderstanding takes place.
• The attackers get three points for chipping it into the keeper's hands. One point given if the ball hits the floor but still gets to the keeper.
• Time stops when last ball is in the inner circle with the keeper.
• If the ball misses the keeper, it can be replayed from where it stops.

Coaching points

• Speed of players to the ball.
• Composure to pass.
• Selection and execution of passing technique.
• Goalkeeper's handling techniques.

Adaptations

• Particular movements have to be used when running for example: hopping, moving backwards.
• Types of pass are dictated by the coach and they must combine with a teammate in the second circle before they play into the goalkeeper.
• Vary the distance of the circles.

Session 4 - Crossing and finishing

Organisation

• Set up a wide playing area.
• Use two full goals, two goalkeepers and three outfield players, with footballs placed at the goals.

Session information

• Establish practice social distancing conditions and rules with players to ensure no misunderstanding takes place.
• Play starts with the goalkeeper.
• Players work the ball towards opposite goal where it must go into a wide area to deliver a cross.
• Repeat practice, returning to the opposite goal.

Coaching points

• Dispersal of players.
• Angle and distance of support.
• Accuracy, weight, timing and type of passes.
• Combination skills.
• Type of cross.
• Communication – verbal/visual.

Adaptations

• Work through both sides of the pitch.
• Introduce combination play – one-twos.
• Invert crossers on opposite side of pitch.
• Work through types of crosses and finishes.
• Introduce competition - goalkeepers vs outfield players.

Session 5 - Dribbling and turning

Organisation

• Set up an area as shown.
• Five players, each in their own zone with a ball each.
• Gates marked show the entrance into the next square.

Session information

• Establish practice social distancing conditions and rules with players to ensure no misunderstanding takes place.
• To start players are to move around their square keeping the ball close.
• One player is nominated to initiate movement into the next square with or without the ball.

Coaching points

• Dribble with awareness, close control, use small touches.
• Turn when you want or when your partner or the leader does.
• Think about how you are going to travel into the next square.

Adaptations

• Players can rotate in one direction only.
• Change and move in the other direction.
• Work in pairs only.
• Travel in different ways into the next square.
• Work on weak foot only.
• Swap balls through different gates.

Session 6 - Strikers: combination play

Organisation

• A 20x20 yard grid is marked out 10 yards from goal.
• Five players: one goalkeeper, two servers and two strikers.
• Footballs start with the servers.
• Strikers cannot be in same square on the same passing line.

Session information

• Establish practice social distancing conditions and rules with players to ensure no misunderstanding takes place.
• To start, strikers move around to trigger a pass from a server.
• Servers play to any striker or are directed to an individual.
• Grids are used as visual guides to ensure players are not in the same place.

Coaching points

• Initial movements from strikers.
• Scanning of servers.
• Accuracy, weight, timing and disguise of pass.
• Receiving skills of striker, first touch, body shape.
• Support run or decoy from second striker.
• Combine to finish.
• Type and quality of finish.

Adaptations

• Players rotate.
• Set patterns are practised.
• Reduce number of touches per player.
• Reduce time for shot, shot clock.
• Restrict type of finish accepted; parts of the goal; one touch.

Session 7 - Play in, play out

Organisation

• Players are arranged in a group of three with one ball between them.
• One player operates inside the inner circle, the other two are on the outside, 2 metres away from the inner circle.
• Outside players cannot go beyond the cones, which are 2 metres apart for social distancing purposes.

Session information

• Establish practice social distancing conditions and rules with players to ensure no misunderstanding takes place.
• Players try to move the ball from one outside player to the other via the middle player as many times as possible – one point per success.
• Swap roles after each round so players get to experience playing on the outside and in the middle.

Coaching points

• Try to encourage a range of different passing styles e.g. right foot, left foot, side foot.
• Try to incorporate elements of trickery, disguise, deception.
• Scanning – can you see both players when receiving the ball?

Adaptations

• Play to a time limit – how many can you score in 30 seconds?
• Outside players must take up a new position after making their pass.
• Up, back and through – play a one-two with the central player before playing a longer pass to the other end player.

Session 8 - Finishing after receiving with back to goal

Organisation

• Set up three mannequins/poles/cones to act as defenders.
• Five footballs and a ‘server’ in the highlighted area.
• Coach can act as a server.
• Two groups play at the same time.

Session information

• Establish practice social distancing conditions and rules with players to ensure no misunderstanding takes place.
• Server passes the ball into the striker who receives to finish.
• Striker must start next to a mannequin each time, and must start next to each mannequin at least once from the five attempts.
• Rotate strikers and passers.
• Team game – most goals wins.
• Play two or three rounds.

Coaching points

• Eye contact between server and attacker triggers movement of attacker away from the mannequin.
• Weight and accuracy of the pass (pass to the foot furthest away from the mannequin).
• Receive into space using first touch.
• The finish – controlled and confident.
• Reset – attacker rests and resets in between shots.
• Goalkeepers - narrow angle, set position and make the save.

Adaptations

• Switch passer zone so attacker receives it from different angles and distances.
• Move the mannequins/poles/cones higher up the pitch so attackers are shooting from further out.
• Server can follow their pass to shoot.
• Be creative with the combination play.

Session 9 - Finishing under pressure

Organisation

• Organise into two teams of three. Each team has a goalkeeper, a server, and an attacker.
• Coach can act as a server.
• Set up server zone and two gates.

Session information

• Establish practice social distancing conditions and rules with players to ensure no misunderstanding takes place.
• On coaches command, both attackers sprint to their gate and receive the ball from their server. They then dribble with the ball and shoot before the end line.
• First one to score wins the point.
• Rotate players after each go.
• Rotate sides so players are attacking the goal from a different angle/on their weaker foot.
• Team that scores the most goals is the winner

Coaching points

• Travel to the goal with as few touches as possible.
• Head up to assess the position of the goalkeeper.
• Variety of finishes – side-foot/laces/’dink’.
• Staying alert on transition (if your goalkeeper saves the ball, be alert to receive the quick pass).
• Goalkeeper - narrow the angle, set position and make the save.

Adaptations

• Dribble from the start and play a one-two with the server.
• Long pass from the start to the server.
• Server passes the ball for finisher to finish first-time.
• If goalkeeper saves and maintains possession, pass the ball to your striker for an additional bonus shot.
• Change the coaches command to one attacker being the trigger to start.
• Increase/decrease the distance travelled.

Session 10 - Forward passing, screening and intercepting

Organisation

• Five players; three attackers, one defender and one goalkeeper.
• Players are locked in their respective channels.
• Play for five rounds, then swap roles.

Session information

• Establish practice social distancing conditions and rules with players to ensure no misunderstanding takes place.
• Each round has a ten second countdown. The time remaining on the countdown equals the amount of points when a goal is scored.
• The two attackers move the ball between them to find an opening to play over or around the defender to find their teammate.
• The defender has to try to intercept and score before the countdown ends.

Coaching points

• Body position to receive.
• Controlling touch.
• Pass selection.
• Pass execution.
• Movement in advance of the ball.

Adaptations

• When FA COVID-19 guidelines permit opposed practices:
  • Allow movement between channels e.g. defender can press the attackers; attackers can advance with the ball.
  • Restrict the choice of pass e.g. attackers can only play around the defender.
  • Adjust the pitch dimensions for different returns e.g. a thin pitch to challenge the players to play through.

If you’re back out on the grass and want to find more safe sessions, head to our playlist by clicking here.

The FA’s Diversity & Inclusion team are aware of additional concerns and anxiety that members of the BAME community may have regarding returning to football. We fully support these concerns and care about the welfare of coaches and volunteers when carrying out football related activities. We also recognise that early research and insight in relation to the impact of COVID-19 on the BAME community is complex and still not fully understood.

If you have any health concerns regarding returning to coaching for yourself, your players or parents/carers, or others, you can contact The FA at D&Isupport@theFA.com for advice. We must follow the latest government advice and ensure that we do not feel pressured to return to coaching. You can find some additional support below:

https://www.gmcvo.org.uk/Coronavirus/BAMESupport
https://www.mind.org.uk/