Annual training plan · U9–U13

Week 19: Showing for the Ball in an Open Body Position

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

The next 3 sessions are about the basics of showing for the ball and getting free. Players are given 3 simple pointers that nevertheless bring a huge advantage to their game.

Open body position: If a player is unmarked, it is important that he does not show for the ball with his back to the opponents' goal but facing forward. That way, the ball can be taken towards the opponents' goal with the 1st touch without losing any time.

Running feints: In small-sided football in particular, teams still defend almost exclusively man-to-man. This makes it difficult to receive the ball in an open body position. But if the player gets free with a running feint, “going away and coming short” or “coming short and going away”, he can receive the ball facing forward or has already shaken off his direct opponent and receives a pass in behind.

Getting out of the cover shadow: To drive the game forward, it is essential to create passing options in depth. To do this, players have to show wide or in the gaps so that they do not stand in the defenders' cover shadow.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

In the warm-up, a ball is passed around inside a marked area with a set passing sequence. Make sure the players change pace after every pass. This makes the players internalise the principle of “pass and move”.

The 2nd exercise is a positional play exercise in a 4 vs 4, with 2 players each acting as support players on the touchlines. In this exercise, pay particular attention to the players in the centre repeatedly getting away from their opponents.

After that, a finishing drill is carried out in which the ball is first taken in stride in an open body position. Here the pass should always be played to the front foot and the ball taken in stride at pace.

After that comes a small-sided game in a 4 vs 4 with 2 advanced target players per team, who operate beside the opposing goal. The main focus should be on 2 points in particular:

  • The advanced players operate across the full width, to get out of the opponents' cover shadow
  • After the pass to a target player, get free again immediately to offer the target player passing options – pass and move
Coaching points for this session
  • Pass and move with a change of pace
  • Show for the ball in an open body position
  • Scan
  • Get out of the cover shadow
  • Use running feints
Drill 1

Passing by Numbers

15 min12 x 15 metres

The following tasks are completed one after the other:

  1. From dribbling, pass to the team-mate with the next number, who controls the pass safely, takes it in their stride and passes it on: Player 1 passes to Player 2, Player 2 to Player 3, Player 3 to Player 4 and Player 4 back to Player 1.
  2. As before, but passing after two touches at most.
  3. Play the combination pass, return pass, pass with the next player.
  4. Only pass once the team-mate shows for the ball with a short sprint and a running feint.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area.

Equipment: Cones and one ball per team.

Players: Two teams of four players each; the players in each team are numbered from 1 to 4.

Coaching points
  • Change pace after every pass.
  • Demand communication.
  • Take the ball into the movement with the first touch.
Drill 2

2 plus 2 vs 2 plus 2 in a Square

25 min
  • First the two teams play only among themselves and without opponents; as soon as the sequence is clear, they play against each other with only one ball.
  • The side players may not enter the square and may only move between their two adjacent cones; they have two touches at most.
  • The players in the middle try to keep the ball within their own ranks.
  • If the ball is played out wide, the two inside players immediately offer the outside player two passing options and form a triangle in doing so.
  • For a set number of consecutive passes the team receives a point.
  • After a few minutes the inside and outside players swap.

Variations: The outside player passes or dribbles the ball into the playing area; the passer then fluidly takes up the outside position.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones form a square, further cones mark out the playing area.

Equipment: Cones and one to two balls.

Players: Two teams with two players in the middle and two players on the sides each.

Coaching points
  • The outside players do not stop the ball dead but play it on quickly.
  • They show for the ball across the full width and get out of the cover shadow.
  • The players in the centre get away from the opponent with running feints.
  • They get away from the opponent again immediately after passing.
Drill 3

Open Body Position with a Shot at Goal

20 minHalf a pitch

Variation 1:

  • The rear players pass to the front players.
  • The receiver controls the ball, turns into an open body position and finishes at goal.
  • The passes are played from left to right so that the receivers always get the ball from different positions. Alternatively the centre is occupied twice, and the outside players pass to centre left and centre right.
  • Afterwards the passer takes the receiver's position; the receiver collects the ball and takes up the position at the cone of the previous passer.

Variation 2:

  • The outside players become defenders.
  • Alternatively or in addition, a passive defender is added in the centre.
  • The rotation order is: receiver, passer, defender, passive defender in the centre.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Seven cones mark the positions; there is a goal at one end.

Equipment: 7 cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: The rear players as passers, the front players as receivers; plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Take the ball straight into the movement with the first touch.
  • Pass to the front foot.
  • Finish quickly.
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

The training session opens with a coordination exercise combined with passing. When working with the agility ladder, make sure you regularly add new tasks to keep the exercise varied. For example, the hands can be included by clapping them alternately in front of and behind the body after every 2nd step.

After that, 8 vs 4 is played for 25 minutes with three teams, with the team that last lost the ball always playing on its own.

The 3rd exercise of the session trains the use of running feints to get away from an opponent behind. The attacker fakes a run in behind and then sets off towards the ball shortly before the pass. The running feint should create separation from the opponent, to allow the ball to be received in an open body position.

At the end of training, a free game is played in a 4 vs 4. In the free small-sided game too, pay particular attention to the players' movement to show for the ball and get free.

Coaching points for this session
  • Get free from the opponent with running feints – move away and come short, come short and move away
  • Show for the ball in an open body position
  • Get out of the cover shadow – move away wide or show for the ball in the gaps
Drill 1

Passing with Coordination

20 min
  • Player 1 dribbles through the poles with various requirements — for example only with the inside of the foot, only with the outside of the foot or alternating left and right — and then passes to Player 2.
  • At the same time Player 2 runs through the agility ladder and lays the pass from Player 1 off first time.
  • Player 1 then plays diagonally to Player 3.
  • Player 3 takes the ball in their stride and plays to Player 4.
  • Player 4 takes the ball in their stride and dribbles to the poles.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the four positions; between them are a pole course and an agility ladder.

Equipment: Poles, 1 agility ladder, cones and several balls.

Players: Four groups at positions 1 to 4.

Drill 2

Possession Game - 4+4 vs 4

20 min
  • Yellow and Red play together against Blue for possession.
  • If Blue wins the ball, the team of the player who caused the loss of possession switches to defending.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: The playing area is marked out with four cones.

Equipment: 4 cones and 1 ball.

Players: Three teams of four players each.

Coaching points
  • Use the full size of the playing area.
  • Constantly provide three passing options: left, right and central.
  • Demand communication.
  • Pass to the foot furthest from the opponent.
Drill 3

Getting Free from the Opponent with a Preparatory Movement III

20 min
  • The midfielder dribbles through the two cones. On reaching the second cone, the midfielder passes to the team-mate.
  • The attacker gets free with precise timing: making a running feint forward, then coming short towards the ball and taking the pass in an open body position.
  • The attacker then finishes.

Variations:

  • A defender is added, who after winning the ball may counter over the dashed line between the cones.
  • A chasing defender applies pressure on the passer from the side or from behind.
  • A second attacker and a second defender are added. The attackers now have to coordinate their runs with each other.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Set-up as shown in the graphic, two cones form the dribbling gate for the midfielder.

Equipment: 4 cones, 1 goal, balls.

Players: One midfielder and one attacker, the goal is occupied by a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • The pass and the preparatory movement have to be timed perfectly.
  • Have the drill carried out with both feet.
Drill 4

Free Game in a 4 vs 4

25 min25 x 30 metres
  • The game is played freely as 4 vs 4.
  • In the combination play only ground passes are allowed.
Equipment & set-up

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

Equipment: 4 mini goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of four players each.

Coaching points
  • Demand free play and creativity.
  • Keep an eye on their own goals.
  • Defend in the space, but also apply pressing.

Session 3

4 drills

From the 2nd to the 4th exercise, the focus will be specifically on getting out of the cover shadow. In the 3 vs 1 in Exercise 2, the position has to be adjusted again and again after each pass, so that the receiver immediately has 2 passing options again.

In the 3rd exercise, the session continues with a passing drill ending in a finish. The key here is for the players to move in opposite directions. For example, if the player in front moves away to the left, a deeper player shows for the ball on the right-hand side. This opens up a passing window that a player further forward runs into.

To finish, a possession game is carried out. In this drill, a team with the numerical advantage has the aim of freeing up a central player. In this exercise, pay very particular attention to getting out of the cover shadow. The central player should keep adjusting their position to make themselves available. The other team-mates should make the game big and keep pulling out wide if they are in a cover shadow.

Coaching points for this session
  • Get out of the cover shadow – move away and show for the ball in the gaps
  • Show for the ball in an open body position
  • Run into free spaces
  • Open up spaces
Drill 1

Controlling and Taking the Ball After a Preparatory Movement

20 minOuter area 20 x 20 metres, inner area 5 x 5 metres
  • The player without a ball calls for the ball by shouting the name of a team-mate and moves towards the ball across the imaginary line of the square.
  • That player takes the ball into the middle square and then plays it to the free player.
  • Then that player runs to the next player and calls for the next ball.
  • Requirement: the player in the middle may not pass back to the player the ball came from.
  • In one round all players must have been passed to.

Variations:

  • The outside players move around the square.
  • The balls are thrown half-high or high.
  • Only one-touch passing is played.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones form an outer and an inner area.

Equipment: 8 cones and three balls.

Players: Four players stand on the lines of the outer area, three of them with a ball; one player without a ball stands in the inner area.

Coaching points
  • After the preparatory movement, start explosively towards the ball.
  • Play the ball on quickly.
Drill 2

3 vs 1 with a Switch of Play

20 min
  • Play starts with a 3 vs 1 in the left-hand square.
  • After five successful passes the ball is passed into the other square.
  • The defenders rotate as this happens.

Variations:

  • The defenders in the middle area may intercept the passes into the other square.
  • If the drill is carried out well, limit the players to one touch.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones form two squares next to each other.

Equipment: 8 cones and several balls.

Players: Three attackers and one defender per square.

Coaching points
  • Constantly get out of the cover shadow in the 3 vs 1.
Drill 3

Getting Free and Passing with a Shot at Goal

20 min
  • Player A plays a short ball to Player B.
  • Player B lays the ball off first time and moves to one side.
  • On the other side, Player C calls for the forward pass from Player A.
  • Player C lays the ball back for Player B, who finishes at goal.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Five cones mark the positions; there is a goal at one end.

Equipment: 5 cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Players A, B and C; plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Take the ball straight into the movement with the first touch.
  • Pass to the front foot.
  • Finish quickly.
Drill 4

Overload Game to a Central Target Player

20 minBig square 15 x 15 metres, small square 4 x 4 metres
  • One player from Yellow operates exclusively in the middle area, the remaining players outside the inner area.
  • Yellow gets a point for every one-two played with the central player.
  • Blue gets a point after the team has played five passes in a row.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four red cones lay out the big square, four yellow ones the small square in the middle.

Equipment: 8 cones and several balls.

Players: The teams are set up for a 7 vs 4.

Coaching points
  • Attack Yellow actively when the player in possession has to operate with the back to the inner area.
  • Otherwise stay compact and close the passing lanes into the inner area.
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