Annual training plan · U14–U23

Week 20: Runs – Strikers & Holding Midfielders

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

Over the next 2 weeks, the work focuses specifically on the behaviour and the necessary skills of individual positions. In a total of 6 sessions, 2 days each are devoted to the striker, the holding midfielder and the winger.

You can do this position-specific training with your whole team, because the demands of individual positions overlap. In addition, players benefit from playing unfamiliar positions, so that they can better put themselves in the shoes of their team-mates/opponents and acquire a broad range of position-specific skills and knowledge. In addition to these sessions, friendly matches are ideal for trying players in new positions.

It should also be mentioned that no player plays exclusively in his position for 90 minutes. For example, a striker sometimes drifts out to the wing after a pass in behind. Another example is the far-side winger joining the run into the box for a cross and thus acting almost like a striker. For the holding midfielder, a run in behind after, for example, a striker has come short is a typical example of playing in an “other” position.

As an alternative to training with the whole team, you can also split the team into 2–3 groups if you run the sessions with 2 or more coaches. This way, each coach can train the behaviour and skills of one position specifically.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

The 2nd training session on position-specific striker training starts with a handball heading warm-up. This can be used to train the strikers' runs into the box for crosses. The run should not be made too early, so that the ball can be headed on the move. In addition, the attackers should peel away from goal on the far side before the throw, so that they can make a diagonal run. Alongside the runs into the box, you can of course also coach the strikers' heading technique. Here you should make sure there is enough arched body tension and that the attacker hits the ball with the large surface of the forehead.

After that, 2 exercises will look at possible runs in behind for the strikers. The general rule here is that the run in behind should be made at speed rather than from a standing start or a jog. To do this, the attacker can peel away on the far side and then move parallel to the opposing line. This gives the attacker a speed advantage over the defenders and increases their chances of getting to the ball played in behind before the defenders.

For the last 30 minutes of training, a 3-zone game is played. In each of the end zones, there are 2 attackers and 2 defenders. The 2 strikers can therefore coordinate their movement to get free with each other. For example, the ball-side striker can show short while the far-side attacker makes a run in behind, round the back of the team-mate.

Coaching points for this session

Running in for crosses:

  • Drop away on the far side and run in diagonally
  • Do not run in too early, so as to finish on the move
  • Get away from the defender with changes of pace and direction

Runs in behind:

  • Drop away on the far side
  • Move parallel to the opposition line
  • Set off in behind as the pass is played
  • Watch out for offside
Drill 1

Heading

20 min
  • Group A starts: the first player stands diagonally to the group at the cone and is served with a lobbed throw.
  • This player heads the ball straight at goal.
  • Group B then takes its turn.
  • Play continues until a target is reached — for example: which team is first to score ten goals?
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark the positions; plus one full-size goal.

Equipment: 4 cones, 1 goal and one ball per player.

Players: Two groups lining up to the left and right of the goal; plus one goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Meet the ball with the large surface of the forehead.
  • Build up an arched body tension.
  • Make a diagonal run in.
  • Vary the type of header: from a planted step, after a jump or as a diving header; also vary the distance and the angle to the goal.
Drill 2

Passing: One-Touch Passing Combination 2 into the Gap

20 minHalf a pitch
  • Player A passes to Player B and runs towards the penalty area.
  • Player B passes first time to Player C, makes a short counter-movement and then also runs towards the penalty area.
  • Player C passes first time in behind the defensive line into the run of Player A.
  • Player A squares the ball to Player B, who finishes first time.
  • Player A moves to position B, Player C to position A.
  • Player D starts the next round from the other side.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the positions: four level with the edge of the penalty area and three further back at the centre circle. Plus one goal.

Equipment: Cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Player A with a ball plus Players C and D at the rear cones, Player B in front of the penalty area, plus one goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Finish from short range with the inside of the foot.
  • Player A plays the cut-back first time if possible.
  • Player B lays the ball off with the foot furthest from the opponent.
Drill 3

Attack Through the Centre at/in the Penalty Area | Attacker with Back to Goal 2 vs 2

20 min
  • The number ten dribbles forward; the number nine stands with the back to goal.
  • The number nine performs a preparatory movement and demands the ball.
  • This starts a 2 vs 2: the number ten and the striker against the two centre-backs.
  • On winning the ball, the defenders counter-attack quickly on the mini goals.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the pitch; plus one goal and two mini goals for the counter-attacks.

Equipment: 1 goal, 2 mini goals, cones and several balls.

Players: One goalkeeper, two centre-backs, one striker (number nine) and one midfielder (number ten).

Coaching points
  • Watch for a clean preparatory movement — the feint before the sprint.
  • Demand a quick break away from the defender and use of the body.
  • Demand a quick turn towards goal.
  • Start explosively into the 1 vs 1.
  • Look for the finish.
  • Demand clear calls — turn and lay off.
Drill 4

4 vs 4 with Striker Zone

25 minFrom the penalty area to the halfway line, played across
  • The game is played 4 vs 4 or more.
  • Each team nominates a striker who has to stay in the striker zone; no other attacking player may enter it.
  • The defenders may enter and leave the zone, but no more than one defender may be inside it at any one time.
  • The aim is to bring the striker into position, who then has to win the 1 vs 1.
  • Goals scored by the striker inside the zone count double, goals from outside by the other players count once.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Red cones mark the pitch, yellow ones the striker zone; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones in two colours and several balls.

Players: Two teams of four or bigger plus two goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Secure the ball with the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • If the opponent defends very tightly behind the striker, the striker turns into that opponent with the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • In the striker zone either break free with a short running feint or seek body contact with the defender before the pass in order to keep that defender behind.
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Session 2

4 drills

In today's training session, the players learn to switch play using diagonal lofted balls. Diagonal lofted balls are often played by one of the centre-backs to the far-side flank.

If the opposing back four plays very high, lofted balls can also be used superbly to play in behind the defence. What matters is that the wide player is already on the move when the ball is played, by moving parallel to the line or diagonally towards it. This gives the winger a speed advantage over the opposing full-back and increases the chances of getting to the ball first.

If it looks as though the lofted ball can be cleared by a defender, it makes sense for the team to shift across compactly towards the ball. This creates a numerical advantage in the immediate vicinity of the ball, and the second ball can be won more easily.

Coaching points for this session
  • Play against the direction of the shift
  • Opposition back four plays very high: play in behind the defence
  • Create an overload near the ball to secure the 2nd ball
Drill 1

Handball Heading Game

15 min
  • Both teams pass the ball to each other by hand.
  • With the ball in the hands, a maximum of three steps may be taken; the ball is passed on by then at the latest, without stopping.
  • Goals may only be scored with the head after a pass from a team-mate; setting the ball up for oneself is not allowed.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; a goal stands at one side.

Equipment: 1 goal, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams.

Coaching points
  • Demand active getting free from the players.
Drill 2

Finish + Curved Run

20 min
  • The first player in the line passes the ball to the attacker.
  • The attacker moves briefly towards the ball, lets it bounce off slightly to the side and makes a curved run in the opposite direction around the cone.
  • The passer now plays the ball into the run of the attacker.
  • The attacker takes the ball in their stride and finishes with the second touch.
  • The passer then becomes the attacker; the previous attacker collects the ball and joins the line.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: A cone goal about five metres wide in front of the penalty area plus a single cone about 15 metres centrally in front of it.

Equipment: Cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: One player stands in the cone goal, the others in a line at the single cone. Plus one goalkeeper.

Drill 3

Pass into the Gap with a Finish

20 minHalf a pitch
  • Player A passes to Player B.
  • Player B passes diagonally to Player C, who takes the ball with an open body position.
  • Player C plays a forward pass to striker D.
  • The striker lays the ball back off to Player C.
  • Player C plays the ball into the gap to the second striker making a crossing run — alternatively to the wide player.

Progression: Play first with passive opponents, then with active defenders and finally let the situation be solved freely.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four dummies form a back four, cones mark the positions; plus one goal.

Equipment: 4 dummies, cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Players A to D plus a second striker and one goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • The striker making the run drops away on the side furthest from the ball and runs in parallel to the defence.
  • The run starts as the forward pass is played and is made at high speed.
  • Pay attention to timing and offside.
  • Take the ball in their stride with the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • Get the finish away quickly.
Drill 4

3-Zone Game: Strikers vs Defenders and Neutral Players

25 minFull pitch
  • In each zone in front of the goal two strikers play against two defenders.
  • The remaining players of both teams and the neutral players play in the middle area.
  • The aim is to pass to one's own strikers, as only they can score a goal.
  • The goalkeeper has to build up play through the defenders.
  • Only the defenders may pass to the players in the middle zone.

Variations:

  • The passer may join the final third as a third attacking player.
  • A player other than the passer may join the final third.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Lines running across the pitch divide it into three zones. At both ends there is a goal with a goalkeeper.

Equipment: 2 goals, either two full-size goals or two small goals, depending on the number of players; a combination of both is possible. Plus cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams each in their own colour of bibs plus one to four neutral players in a third colour, depending on team size; plus two goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Use the numerical advantage to combine quickly — one player is always free.
  • The players in the middle zone defend the space but do not lose sight of the end zone.
  • The defender in the zone defends very tightly behind the striker.

Session 3

4 drills

In the 1st of 2 sessions of position-specific training for the holding midfielders, the main focus will be on showing for the ball and getting free in the build-up.

However, at the start of training, 15 minutes are first spent working on dribbling and feinting. With the feints, pay particular attention not only to the execution but above all to an explosive change of pace afterwards. Also demand that the feints are performed with both the left and the right foot.

After that, the session moves on to its main focus. In a passing drill with 6 players, the holding midfielders learn 3 options for showing for the ball in the build-up and thereby shaping it.

The running and passing routes rehearsed in the passing drill lend themselves perfectly to the final part. There, build-up play is trained for 30 minutes in a 6 vs 6. Place the main focus on the behaviour of the holding midfielders.

Coaching points for this session

Options for the holding midfielders to show for the ball in the build-up:

  • Operate between the lines
  • Far side comes, ball side goes
  • Show for the ball against the direction of the shift
  • show for the ball in the gaps
  • drop between the 2 centre-backs
  • Play past a line and lay off
Drill 1

Technique Training in the Penalty Area

15 minPenalty area
  • Each player performs various exercises with a ball — step-overs, feints, skill moves and changes of pace.
  • Both feet are used.
  • The pace is varied; one minute of work and one minute of active recovery on the ball alternate. The recovery is adjusted to the workload.

Variations:

  • Feints followed by a sharp cut, for example a scissors move or a pass feint.
  • Have feints combined, for example a step-over and a lunge step.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the area.

Equipment: Cones and one ball per player.

Coaching points
  • Perform a change of pace after every feint.
Drill 2

Tiki-Taka 6-Cone Grid

15 min12 x 12 metres
  • The players constantly get free with small, quick steps around the cones that represent the opponents.
  • The pass goes to the holding midfielder nearest the ball.
  • This player plays the ball straight across to the wide player on the other side.
  • The wide player plays the ball to the holding midfielder furthest from the ball.
  • This player lays the ball off to the other holding midfielder.
  • The other holding midfielder takes the ball across to the wide player on the other side.
  • The players then reorientate themselves and the drill starts again from the beginning.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark out a square, two more stand in the middle and represent the opponents.

Equipment: 6 cones and several balls.

Players: Two holding midfielders and two wide players.

Coaching points
  • Increase the pace step by step.
  • Take the ball straight into the movement.
  • Also try one-touch passing.
Drill 3

Duel after a Sprint in 1 vs 1

25 min15 x 15 metres
  • On the coach's command, both players sprint at the same time around the cones set up on their side and into the playing area.
  • The coach plays a ball into the area; this starts a 1 vs 1 inside the marked area.
  • After a goal or when the ball goes out of play, the next round begins.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark the starting points and the playing area; two mini goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 6 cones, 2 mini goals and several balls.

Players: Players A and B each stand at a cone.

Coaching points
  • Get into position quickly.
  • The player in possession can turn quickly and finish straight away on the goal behind.
Drill 4

Build-Up Play in 6 vs 6 with a Focus on the Number 6

30 minHalf a pitch
  • The game is 6 vs 6 with one goalkeeper.
  • At the start of the game, after the ball has gone out of play and after goals, the goalkeeper of Team Yellow always has the ball.
  • Team Yellow has the aim of dribbling through the dribbling gates or of scoring in one of the mini goals.
  • Team Green tries to win the ball and to score in the full-size goal. In doing so, it forces play out wide and defends in a midfield press.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four poles form the dribbling gates, plus two mini goals and one full-size goal.

Equipment: 4 poles, 2 mini goals, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Two teams of six and one goalkeeper. Team Yellow plays with two centre-backs, two full-backs and two holding midfielders, Team Green with two strikers, two wingers and two holding midfielders.

Coaching points
  • Make the game deep and wide.
  • Demand varied solutions from the holding midfielders in the build-up: the holding midfielder nearest the ball goes, the one furthest from the ball comes.
  • Show for the ball against the direction of the shift.
  • Drop between the two centre-backs or between a centre-back and a full-back and try to dribble or pass past the first line with an overload.
  • Play past a line and use a lay-off — staggered depth.
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