Annual training plan · U14–U23

Week 17: Feints & Ball Control

3 complete training sessions with 12 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

As last week, the sessions will consist of technique practices and small-sided games with small numbers – 2 vs 2, 3 vs 3, 4 vs 4 up to a maximum of 5 vs 5.

In the technique practices last week, players already worked on dribbling, heading and passing. All techniques were applied first without and later with pressure from opponents or in a competition format. This allows players first to internalise a clean movement pattern so that they can then apply it under pressure.

This week, players will work on finishing, feinting and receiving the ball.

In the small-sided games that follow, focus your coaching particularly on the technique practised beforehand. But also make sure that players put the following points into practice in the games:

  • Make the pitch wide and deep in possession
  • Play compactly and in relation to the ball when the opponent has possession
  • Get to a finish purposefully
  • Transition quickly, both in attack and in defence
  • Clever showing for the ball and getting free: pulling defenders out of space, coordinated movement to get free, getting away from the opponent with running feints, showing in an open body position
  • Bravely look for the attacking 1 vs 1

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

To start the training session, the players alternate between a coordination course and dribbling tasks in an area.

After that, it is straight on to today's technical training focus – shooting. After 2 players have dribbled through a short course of cones, they each finish on a different goal. Immediately afterwards, the two players play 1 vs 1 on mini goals. The exercise is very varied in content and, in addition to finishing, also improves dribbling, transition behaviour and attacking and defending 1 vs 1.

In Exercise 3, the players are divided into teams of 2, who work on shooting and play 2 vs 2. In the games, demand that the players try to get to a finish quickly and that the defending teams work actively out of possession.

The training ends with a 15-minute small-sided game in a 4 vs 4 with 2 advanced target players per team. A drill that usually produces lots of first-time finishes. Provided the target players get actively involved in the play and the outfield players make a forward run immediately after a pass to a target player.

Coaching points for this session
  • Finish with both feet
  • Before the finish, watch the goalkeeper's position
  • Do not hesitate
  • Close to goal, placed finishes with the inside of the foot are often a good option
Drill 1

Dribbling + Coordination Course

20 min15 x 15 metres
  • One player dribbles in the area, the partner runs through the course three times.
  • Then the partner goes into the area, and the two swap tasks.

Stations in the course:

  1. Run over the poles with a set number of contacts.
  2. Run through a straight slalom.
  3. Run through a staggered slalom.
  4. Run through a triangle of cones and touch every cone with the hand.

Possible tasks for the dribbling in the area: only with the left or right foot, only with the sole, pulling the ball back or performing feints.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: A dribbling area as well as a course with four stations made up of poles, hurdles and cones.

Equipment: Poles, hurdles, cones and one ball per pair.

Players: Groups of two.

Coaching points
  • The quality of execution comes before speed.
  • Train with both feet.
  • Look up from the ball.
Drill 2

Shot After Dribbling in the 1 vs 1

20 min
  • The first players of both teams set off at the same time, dribble through the cones and then shoot at the goal on their left as they see it.
  • A ball is then played into the area and the two players play 1 vs 1 on the mini goals.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones form two dribbling courses; plus two youth goals and two mini goals.

Equipment: 2 youth goals, 2 mini goals, 8 cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams.

Coaching points
  • Transition immediately after the finish in order to be ready for the 1 vs 1.
Drill 3

2 vs 2 with a Finish after Exertion

30 minHalf a pitch
  • Middle station: The players sprint without a ball around each of the three cones and then back to the starting cone each time. Once they have run around the last cone and back around the starting cone, they receive a pass from the goalkeeper and finish.
  • Left station: 2 vs 2 on the youth goals or mini goals laid on their sides.
  • Right station: 2 vs 2 on the two goal lines; the goal line has to be dribbled over.

Note: Each round lasts five minutes; after that all teams move on one station.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two areas measuring 20 x 12 metres stand next to each other 16 metres apart. One area has small goals on the touchline, the other has none. There is a full-size goal on the goal line; in front of it three cones mark the sprinting areas.

Equipment: Cones, youth goals or mini goals, 1 full-size goal and several balls.

Players: The teams are assigned to the areas in groups of four. In addition there is a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • 5 minutes per round. After 5 minutes all teams move on one station.
Drill 4

4 vs 4 with Target Players in Behind

25 minDouble penalty area
  • 4 vs 4 is played inside the playing area.
  • Each team has two target players next to its own goal.
  • If one of the wall players receives a pass, that player dribbles into the playing area and the passer takes up the vacated position.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; there is a goal at each end.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and enough balls at the sides.

Players: Two teams of four, two target players next to each team's own goal as well as two goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Open up the passing lines in behind through movement to get free.
  • The deep players move actively along the goal line in order to get out of the cover shadow.
The complete session as a ready-made training plan – with animated drills in the web app. Go to the web app

Session 2

4 drills

Today's training is all about feinting. Once again it starts with an exercise without pressure from opponents, which lets the players concentrate on a clean, fluid execution of the feint. Make sure the feints are performed with both the left and the right foot.

After that, 1 vs 1 is played for possession. Here it is less about feinting correctly and much more about shielding the ball properly. To do this, the players try to keep their body between the ball and the opponent at all times. Nevertheless, an unexpected feint can also briefly get away from the opponent.

In the 3rd exercise, play goes from 1 vs 1 up to 4 vs 4. A good opportunity, particularly thanks to the 2 dribbling goals, to use feints successfully in head-to-head duels.

The 4th exercise is a 3 vs 3 in which the attacking team has as many as 3 dribbling goals to choose from. This makes feinting easier, because the defenders have to cover several dribbling routes at once.

In both Exercises 3 and 4, encourage the players to boldly seek out the attacking 1 vs 1 and to use simple but proven feints.

Coaching points for this session
  • Start feints in good time
  • After the feint, make a change of pace
  • Make sure the feints are convincing, especially shooting and passing feints
  • Shift the centre of gravity sufficiently (step-over and lunge)
  • Make sure the feints are performed in one fluid movement
Drill 1

Feint Circuit

15 min
  • The four players in the area dribble and perform all the feints they know.
  • After three to four feints they pass the ball to a player outside the area.
  • Then they line up at the cone, and the outside players dribble into the area.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark the outside positions.

Equipment: With eight players, 4 cones and 4 balls.

Players: Four players dribble in the area, four stand outside at the cones.

Coaching points
  • Start the drill at an easy pace and increase the tempo steadily.
  • Perform the feints with the whole body in order to deceive the opponent.
Drill 2

1 vs 1 | Keeping Possession

20 min20 x 20 metres

Exercise 1

  • Practise passing as well as the first touch and taking the ball in stride — laying the ball off, turning and the like.

Exercise 2

  • The player in possession tries to shield the ball and defend it against the partner.
  • If the defender wins the ball, the defender then has to keep it.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area.

Equipment: Cones and 1 ball per pair.

Players: The players form pairs.

Coaching points
  • Control the ball with the foot furthest from the opponent.
Drill 3

1 vs 1 up to 4 vs 4

25 min30 x 20 metres
  • Every game starts with a 1 vs 1.
  • The task is to dribble through a goal on the opposite side or to pass along the ground through it.
  • After a goal or after the ball goes out over the goal line or the touchline, one more player from each team moves into the playing area — making it 2 vs 2, 3 vs 3 and finally 4 vs 4.
  • To do so, the new player of the team entitled to the ball dribbles in.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; eight tall cones form four goals.

Equipment: 8 tall cones, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of four players each.

Coaching points
  • Look for the 1 vs 1 bravely.
  • Get past the opponent with a change of pace and a feint.
Drill 4

Mini Football 3 vs 3 on 3 Cone Goals

25 min
  • A free 3 vs 3 is played.
  • The defending team must keep all three goals in view at all times.
  • The attacking team can make the game wide in order to pull the defenders apart and score a goal with a switch of play or by playing into the middle.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the playing area, twelve tall cones form the goals.

Equipment: 12 tall cones, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of three.

Coaching points
  • Set up short and intensive rounds.
  • If the teams defend too passively, six passes can be counted as a goal.

Session 3

4 drills

The training week is rounded off with the technical focus of controlling the ball.

For the first 15 minutes, a passing drill in a square is carried out. The ball is passed round both clockwise and anticlockwise with 2 touches. Make sure that both touches are taken with the outside foot wherever possible. The exercise also works very well as a competition if there are enough players for 2 or more groups – which team is first to get the ball round 5, 10 or 15 laps.

This is followed by 2 vs 2 in short, intensive rounds. The playing time is 1 minute at most. Demand that your players go boldly into the 1 vs 1 and look purposefully for a finish.

In Exercise 3, work is done on taking the ball in stride, 1 vs 1 and finishing. Place emphasis on the players showing for the ball in an open body position and taking the ball in their stride with the front foot.

Finally, 3 vs 3 is played once more. Watch your players' 1 vs 1 behaviour, their use of space (defensively and offensively), their movement to get free and, above all, the way they control the ball.

Coaching points for this session
  • Scan
  • Come to meet the pass
  • Take the ball into space
Drill 1

First Touch and Passing

15 min
  • Player A passes to Player B and moves towards the free cone.
  • Player B controls the ball and passes to Player C.
  • Player B then moves towards the cone that has become free; the sequence continues in this way.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the positions; one cone stays free.

Equipment: Cones and several balls.

Players: There is one player at each occupied cone.

Coaching points
  • Perform both the first touch and the pass with the outside foot.
  • Insist on coordination between the players and take the ball straight into the direction of play.
Drill 2

2 vs 2 on 2 Goals

25 minDouble penalty area
  • Two players from Team A with a ball and two players from Team B enter the playing area; this starts a 2 vs 2.
  • As soon as a goal is scored or one minute has been played, two new players each from A and B enter the playing area.
  • The four players who were in the playing area leave it.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; there are two goals at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of equal size, A and B, plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Keep the rounds very intensive.
  • The defenders apply a high press.
Drill 3

Finishing with a First Touch

20 min30 metres
  • The goalkeeper starts the play with a pass to Player A; later on the ball can also be thrown to Player A.
  • Player A moves away backwards from the cone, turns and plays a pass to Player B.
  • Player B dribbles towards a cone, goes past it with a feint and finishes.

Variations: Player B goes into a 1 vs 1 with Player C and tries to finish. Player C takes up a position between the goal and Player B.

Note: The goalkeeper starts the drill alternately down the left and the right side.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark the positions: three on the penalty area line, one centrally in front of it and two at the centre circle. Plus one goal with a goalkeeper.

Equipment: 6 cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Players A and B plus a goalkeeper who starts the play. For the variation with 1 vs 1, position C on the left side is also filled.

Coaching points
  • Move away in an open body position.
  • Take the ball straight into the movement with the first touch.
  • Make sure that the player passes to the front foot.
Drill 4

Funino as 3 vs 3

25 min
  • A free 3 vs 3 is played.
  • Goals may only be scored from the end zones.
  • The players try to play a team-mate into the zone with a pass into the run.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area and the end zones; there are four mini goals at the ends.

Equipment: 4 mini goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of three.

Coaching points
  • Keep the rounds short and intensive.
  • Make the game wide in order to create space in the middle and for a switch of play.
  • The defending team must defend as a unit in order to keep both goals in view.
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