Annual training plan · U14–U23

Week 29: Shooting, Long Shots & Heading

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

Week 3 of the winter preparation is about the technical focuses shooting and heading.

In shooting practice, a wide range of finishing scenarios are played through – first-time finishes after ground or high passes, shots after a dribble, long-range shots and of course headers at goal. In addition, the small-sided games are designed so that there are frequent opportunities to shoot. On the one hand through overloads for the attacking team, and on the other hand through small team sizes. You can also encourage your players to look for the shot bravely, not to hesitate and to shoot with their “weaker” foot too.

In heading practice, too, the work is mainly on finishing with the head. This covers not only the right technique but also movement into the box for crosses, in order to prepare the header as well as possible or to get a header in at all.

Heading becomes more important with the move up to U14/U15, because from now on the games are played on full-size goals. As a result, set pieces gain in importance. Players also develop a better feel for the right timing and can judge the flight of the ball better and better. Anyone who neglects heading practice during this period will have problems with opposition corners, crosses and free kicks. On the other hand, with good progress in heading, set pieces and crosses can become a powerful weapon.

Alongside the technique practices and small-sided games, coordination practices are included in training again this week, before next week continues with athletic practices alongside the main focus.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

Today's session works on finishing after a dribble and after a pass into the run. For both drills, the finish should be sought as quickly as possible after the pass or the breakthrough. Even if that means finishing with the “weaker” foot. In both drills the finish is from short range. A quick glance away from the ball at the goal and the goalkeeper can help the player to place the ball past the goalkeeper with composure.

Directly after the shot, also make sure that the shooter does not switch off but anticipates a rebound from the goalkeeper or off the woodwork.

The session ends with a 4 vs 4 small-sided game with 4 support players in the opposing half. This should lead to lots of first-time finishes from short range. Here too, a composed, well-placed side-foot shot is usually the best solution. Immediately before the finish, the player should look at the goal and the goalkeeper once more.

Coaching points for this session
  • Before the finish, look at the goal and goalkeeper once more
  • Finish with both feet
  • Do not hesitate when a chance to finish arises
  • From close range, finish with a side-foot shot
Drill 1

Fitness and Coordination with the Ball

20 min
  • The players play the ball past the hurdle and jump over it.
  • They then dribble through the forest of poles and take the ball to the hurdle opposite.
  • Once all players have dribbled through the forest of poles, the next round starts.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six hurdles — three of them stand opposite three others. In the space in between there is a forest of poles.

Equipment: 6 hurdles, poles and one ball per player.

Players: There is one player with a ball behind each hurdle.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to using both feet and to close ball control.
  • Regularly look up from the ball.
Drill 2

Mourinho Shooting Practice

20 minDouble penalty area
  • The two players A and B each set off towards the opposite goal.
  • Player A starts dribbling and passes to player B.
  • Player A makes an overlapping run around player B.
  • As soon as player A has made the overlap, player B plays the ball into player A's run.
  • Player A finishes.
  • Afterwards the group at the other goal starts.

Variations: Have the player in possession start alternately from the left and from the right goalpost.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark the starting positions; there are two goals at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, 4 cones and several balls.

Players: Two players A and B per group; plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Make the overlapping run at top speed.
  • Play in the overlapping player just before that player is level with the ball.
  • Finish with the first touch, at the latest with the second.
  • After a few rounds, demand a high tempo.
Drill 3

1 vs 1 After a Pass

20 minDepending on the ability level
  • The drill is started with a diagonal pass from the defender.
  • With that, passer and receiver set off into the playing area, and it is played 1 vs 1.
  • If the defender wins the ball, the defender can counter-attack towards the opposite goal.
  • A round ends when a goal is scored, the ball goes out of play or after 15 seconds.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four tall cones mark the corners of the playing area; at both ends there is a goal with a goalkeeper.

Equipment: 2 goals, 4 tall cones and several balls.

Players: At two diagonally opposite tall cones there is one player of the one team each, at the other two the players of the second team wait in their own bib colour. Plus two goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Get to the finish with purpose.
  • Finish with both feet.
  • Look up at the goal and the goalkeeper once more before finishing.
Drill 4

4 vs 4 + 4 Support Players

25 minDouble penalty area
  • In a double penalty area, two teams play a free game of 4 vs 4 on two goals with goalkeepers.
  • In their respective attacking half the teams have four support players.
  • The support players are positioned on the touchlines and on the goal line of the playing area and must play first time.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two goals, six cones to mark out the playing area and the outer zones as well as two cones near the halfway line, which mark the halves.

Equipment: 2 goals, 8 cones and at least 1 ball.

Players: Two teams of four players each, one goalkeeper each as well as four support players per attacking half.

Note: If eight outside players are assigned and split between the two teams, this can lead to long periods of standing around. Six outside players are better, with the ones on the sides playing for both teams. The roles are changed regularly.

Coaching points
  • Do not block the passing lanes to the support players.
  • Use the numerical advantage cleverly.
  • Get free to become available for a pass or open up the passing lanes to the support players.
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

Most goals are scored inside the penalty area. Nevertheless, long-range shooting should not be neglected in training, because breaking into the penalty area against a compact, deep-lying opponent can sometimes prove difficult. In such matches, a determined shot from distance can win the game. Players should not shy away from shooting even when opponents are in the line of the shot. Goals from distance are quite often scored after a deflected shot.

The reality in youth football, however, is often that players are too hesitant, shy away from shooting from further out and try to walk the ball into the goal. So encourage your players to be brave and to shoot from distance at the right moments.

For shots from outside the “box”, the side-foot shot is of course ruled out. In match situations where players shoot from distance, the inside-of-the-instep kick and the instep drive are particularly suitable. Pay particular attention to the body position when shooting and the position of the standing leg.

Coaching points for this session
  • Boldly look for the shot from distance (even if opponents are between ball and goal)
  • Instep drive: lean the upper body over the ball, plant the standing foot next to the ball, accuracy is more important than power
  • Transition quickly if the ball does not go in
Drill 1

Handball and Heading in End Zones

15 min25 x 20 metres, of which 5 metres each is end zone
  • In the middle zone the ball is played with the hand and headed.
  • With the ball in the hand only one step is allowed.
  • The aim is to head the ball from the middle zone into the opposing end zone after a throw.
  • If a team-mate catches the ball in the end zone, the team gets a point.

Variations:

  • The ball is thrown or headed into the end zone and headed back into the middle zone by a third team-mate — that counts two points.
  • Inside the end zones the offside rule applies.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones mark the playing area with a middle zone and two end zones.

Equipment: 8 cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of equal size.

Coaching points
  • Watch the players' showing for the ball and getting free.
  • Keep moving after passing.
  • Play the ball with power and do not throw it in an arc.
Drill 2

Finishing Drill with Cone Dribbling

20 min
  • On a call the first players of each queue start at the same time; four players are always involved in one round.
  • At position 2 the player pushes the ball forward and shoots at goal immediately.
  • At position 1 the player first completes the slalom course with the ball and then finishes immediately afterwards.
  • Meanwhile Player 3 plays the ball out to the wide position, and Player 4 delivers a cross, if possible first time and on the run.
  • After Players 1 and 2 have shot at goal, they cross their running paths and try to convert the cross.
  • After the execution it is the turn of the next group; the four players move on one position in the next round.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four stations with a slalom course of cones and a goal.

Equipment: 8 cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Four stations with one player each. The players at positions A, B and C have a ball.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to precise timing.
  • Gradually increase the tempo of the drill.
Drill 3

4 vs 4 on Goals + Coordination and Endurance Course

25 minAbout 40 x 20 metres
  • Two teams play 4 vs 4.
  • The other four players complete the course: the agility ladder is run through with small steps, at the hurdles fast, explosive jumps follow. Behind the goals the players jog gently, on the fourth side they sprint.
  • After five minutes a rest of about two minutes follows, then the groups swap.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area, two goals stand at the ends. The agility ladder and the small hurdles are laid out all around.

Equipment: Cones, 2 goals, 1 agility ladder, small hurdles and at least 1 ball.

Players: Three teams with four players each.

Coaching points
  • During the 4 vs 4, pay attention to how the players get free on the move.
  • Demand feints, changes of position and showing for the ball in a free position.
Drill 4

8 vs 6 Competition

25 minHalf a pitch
  • The coach brings the ball into play on the right wing.
  • Team Blue has 30 seconds to get a finish away.
  • After the ball goes out of play, after a goal or once the time has run out, the next action starts with the coach again.
  • If Team Red wins the ball and counters successfully into one of the mini goals, Team Blue has to carry out a forfeit — for example press-ups or squats.

Variations: Start the action on the left wing.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: There are four mini goals on the halfway line and a full-size goal at the other end.

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

Players: Team Blue with eight players against Team Red with six players; plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Team Blue plays quick, powerful passes.
  • Team Blue makes the game wide and looks for the routes in behind.
  • Team Blue switches immediately when losing possession and goes into counter-pressing.
  • Team Red shifts across quickly to the ball side.
  • Team Red coaches each other and steps out instead of dropping too deep.
  • Team Red switches quickly after winning the ball.

Session 3

4 drills

The 3rd and last training session of this week focuses on heading and on movement into the box for deliveries.

When running into the box, 3 points matter above all:

  • Run in diagonally towards the goal and the crosser. This gives the player heading the ball a better angle to the delivery, which makes the finish much easier.
  • Do not run in too early, so as to head the ball on the move if possible and not run underneath the cross.
  • All the dangerous spaces are attacked (cut-back area, near and far post)

When converting the cross, the diagonal run makes it relatively easy to head the ball back against the direction of the run into the near corner. Nevertheless, the players should also learn to head or flick the ball on towards the far post. However, the direction of the ball is much harder to control than when it is headed back against the direction of the run.

Holding the run for as long as possible also makes an attacker much harder to defend against, because they head the ball on the move rather than from a standing position. When running in, the attacker can also use a running feint to slip away behind the defender or get in front of the defender. If the defender still manages to follow the attacker, the task is to win the duel by robust but fair means.

Coaching points for this session

Tactical tips for running in and heading:

  • Attack all the dangerous spaces (cut-back area, near and far post)
  • Run in diagonally
  • Do not run in too early
  • Take off in good time to gain an advantage over the defender
  • Win challenges robustly but fairly
  • Use running feints

Technical tips for heading:

  • Meet the ball at its highest point in the air where possible
  • Where possible, rise for the header on the move
  • Meet the ball with the flat of the forehead
  • Arch the back to build up tension
  • Head with the whole body
  • Watch the flight of the ball
Drill 1

Running Technique Drills + Coordination

15 min
  • The players carry out various running drills — once in a zigzag around the cones and once straight ahead through the agility ladders.
  • They jog back.

Possible running drills:

  • Skipping
  • Heel flicks
  • Bounce hops
  • Skipping run
  • High-knee run
  • Crossover steps
  • Bounding run
  • Stork walk
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones and agility ladders as shown in the graphic.

Equipment: Cones and agility ladders.

Coaching points
  • Increase the pace slowly.
  • Watch for a high quality of execution.
  • Later on, also bring a ball into the drill.
Drill 2

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 3

Crossing Competition | Crossing Training

20 min
  • One pair of players from a team starts from the centre and receives a cross that is to be converted.
  • The two players then receive a cross from the other side, which must be finished on the other goal.

Variations:

  • Headed goals count double.
  • Play without a defender; to increase the intensity a defender can intervene.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area and the outer zones; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams with pairs of players in the centre as well as one crosser each in the wing zone; goalkeepers stand in the goals. An opponent can additionally be positioned in the wing zone.

Coaching points
  • Do not make the run in too early.
  • Move away from the ball.
  • Make the run in diagonally towards the crosser and the goal.
  • The players attack the near post and the far post.
  • The crosses are always played on the move.
Drill 4

Game | Crossing Zones

20 minDouble penalty area
  • The game is played free with crossing zones.
  • Outside the crossing zones only ground passes are played.
  • From the crossing zone crossing is allowed and encouraged.
  • Players who enter the crossing zone may not be challenged.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the crossing zones; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of five or six players each plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • On deliveries, make runs to the near post and the far post as well as into the pull-back area.
  • Before deliveries drop away to the far side in order to be able to run in diagonally.
  • Even though players in the crossing zone may not be challenged, the cross is played quickly and out of the run.
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