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channel DRILLS
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1 V 1 - 3 Goal Game

Two players line up on opposite sides of a square. The attacking player dribbles the ball towards the centre before then attempting to stop the ball between one of the goals. The goal nearest to the defender's starting point is worth 10 points as it is the hardest goal to stop the ball in. The middle goal is worth 5 and the top goal only 1 point.

Defending

3 vs 2 - Two channels

2 players in one channel attack 1 defender whilst another attacker and defender wait in the other channel. The 2 attackers in the first channel play a 2 vs 1, trying to score a goal. However the 2nd defender can choose to come across and help defend making it a 2 vs 2 . Having drawn both defenders across into one channel the 2 attackers may choose to use the other channel and exploit the open space or continue to attack without using the unmarked player.

1 v 1 skills

Corner Football

Teams are made up of 3 players. Each team will look to attack the opposition goal in the opposite corner of the pitch. This will involve good passing and switching of the play.

Passing and Receiving

Crossing from Channel Players

1) Only wide players allowed in channel. 2) A goal must come from a cross or direct result of a crossed ball. 3) Compete 5 v 5 in middle and limit to 2 touches. Wide players have unlimited touches. 4) Condition game and coach what you see.

Conditioned games

Early Cross

Set out 5 x 15 yard channels in each corner of the area as shown in the diagram. Station one player in each channel. Play 2 v 2 in central area. The goalkeeper serves the ball to one of his two teammates in the central area. The goal is to get the ball to either of your teams players stationed in a channel. This player delivers a crossed ball into the attacking area. The two attacking players stagger their runs into the near post, mid-goal and far post areas. Finish with a shot or header on goal.Progression: When the wide player gets the ball in the channel the opposing wide player on his side of the field may run into his area to challenge the cross.

Crossing and Finishing

Minefield Passing

In both the wide channels put one defender and two attackers. Both attackers in the same rectangle must touch the ball before trying to pass to the other attackers. However the ball is not allowed to touch the floor in the minefield area (middle box). If the pass doesn't find its intended recipient because it falls short or is intercepted the player who passed the ball swaps over with the defender in their area.

Possession

Safe House 2

The 4 players inside the blue square must protect the square and stop the ball carriers entering. To begin with the players inside the square are only allowed to shadow and block the outside players from entering. One point is scored by each player who successfully carries out their objective. If the defender wins the ball then the players switch roles.

1 v 1 skills

Wingmen

Played across a half pitch. The red team have a player outside the dotted lines - to promote the use of width. The blue team must play inside the middle channel, and score between either of their two smaller goals.

Conditioned games

Wonder Wingers

Set up 4 meter wide channels along each sideline. Play 3 vs 3 in the middle area (between the channels) with a goalkeeper at both ends. Station one player in each channel. The object of the game is to get the ball to your wide player as quickly as possible. As soon as the wide player receives the ball they should sprint to the goal line and cross the ball in towards the goal to their team mates who are attacking the near and far posts.

Crossing and Finishing

Passing through the channel Pa...

Set up a playing area, divided into three equal sized playing areas. Players cannot enter another zone.To begin with play 6 attackers (3 in both ends) v 1 defender in the middle.The aim for the attackers is to use good passing movement to create space for the pass into the opposite zone.

General

Crossing from Channel Players ...

1) Only wide players allowed in channel. 2) A goal must come from a cross or direct result of a crossed ball. 3) Compete 5 v 5 in middle and limit to 2 touches. Wide players have unlimited touches. 4) Condition game and coach what you see.

General

3 vs 2 - Two channels 1 v 1 sk...

2 players in one channel attack 1 defender whilst another attacker and defender wait in the other channel. The 2 attackers in the first channel play a 2 vs 1, trying to score a goal. However the 2nd defender can choose to come across and help defend making it a 2 vs 2 . Having drawn both defenders across into one channel the 2 attackers may choose to use the other channel and exploit the open space or continue to attack without using the unmarked player.

General

Shooting across goal Shooting ...

Set up two goals, one at either end of the half pitch and two narrow channels (with cones), one to the left and the other to the right of the goals.Players must dribble with the ball using both feet through the channel towards goal. When they are within 15m of the goal they should prepare to shoot, with a shot across the goalkeeper into the far corner.

General

Wonder Wingers Crossing and Fi...

Set up 4 meter wide channels along each sideline. Play 3 vs 3 in the middle area (between the channels) with a goalkeeper at both ends. Station one player in each channel. The object of the game is to get the ball to your wide player as quickly as possible. As soon as the wide player receives the ball they should sprint to the goal line and cross the ball in towards the goal to their team mates who are attacking the near and far posts.

General

1 Vs. 1 Channelling Defending ...

Two teams line up side by side behind their cones. When the player with the ball sets off to run around the cone the drill is live. The player with the ball must run around the cone and then try to score a goal in the defender's side goal by dribbling the ball across the line. This will score them a point. The defenders have to try and force the player to run across their own goal line or tackle them and run the ball over the line themselves. The winner is the first team to 3 goals. After this you can swap the roles around, with the attackers now defending and vice versa.

General

Wingmen Conditioned games - Fo...

Played across a half pitch. The red team have a player outside the dotted lines - to promote the use of width. The blue team must play inside the middle channel, and score between either of their two smaller goals.

General

Early Cross Crossing and Finis...

Set out 5 x 15 yard channels in each corner of the area as shown in the diagram. Station one player in each channel. Play 2 v 2 in central area.The goalkeeper serves the ball to one of his two teammates in the central area. The goal is to get the ball to either of your teams players stationed in a channel. This player delivers a crossed ball into the attacking area. The two attacking players stagger their runs into the near post, mid-goal and far post areas. Finish with a shot or header on goal.<br>Progression: When the wide player gets the ball in the channel the opposing wide player on his side of the field may run into his area to challenge the cross.

General

Overloading Conditioned games ...

The pitch set up has a defending zone and an attacking zone, divided by a midfield channel. The defending zone and attacking zone have 2 defenders and 2 attackers in each zone. The midfield channel has 2 neutral (no.10) players inside. The defenders receive the ball from the goalkeeper and play through to one of the neutral midfield players (with the attacking players trying to stop this). The neutral players then play into the attacking players and join the attacking zone to create a 3v2 overload. Try to score in the opposition goal. Progression 1: Neutral players are split iinto one player for each team (i.e. one becomes blue, one red). These players are unnoposed to begin with in the central channel (but this makes only one midfield player to play into from the defensive zone).Progression 2: Central zone players become opposed (i.e. the opposition midfield player can intercetpt etc). The ball can be set back from the midfield players into the defensive players to play through into the attacking zone. Progression 3: The midfield players can drop into the defensive zone to make a 3v2 overload.

General

Retreating Defence Defending -...

Objective: Opposed practice developing recovery runs and increase understanding on roles and responsibilities. Detail: Mark out 4 channels / areas 15 x 30 (age / ability dependant). Players are organised into groups of 4. Each group work within a channel. Player one serves the ball to player 3 who attempts to beat player 2. Player 2 must retreat into own half before applying pressure.

General

Run out to the player - 1v1 De...

Set up a line of defenders on both sides of your 18 yard box and two lines of attackers roughly in line with the edge of the center circle.On the coach's call the attackers should sprint towards the goal. At the same time the defender should run out and try to do the following:Get themselves between the attacker and the goal.Try to channel the attacker out towards the wing.Slow the attacker down to force their head down.If possible make the interception

General

Use the width to get up the pi...

Red 1 passes the ball to one of the teams to start the game. There should be 3 players in both wings and 8 players in the centre of the pitch. The wing players cannot be tackled and the central players are not allowed into the wing areas. In order to score a goal the team in possession must make 5 consecutive passes before passing out to their wide man. The wide players must both touch the ball before it is crossed in for the team in possession to attack it, with the other team defending the cross. After an attack on goal has been made the ball returns to red 1 who feeds the ball out to the other team.

General

Overloading attack Conditioned...

The pitch set up has a defending zone and an attacking zone, divided by a midfield channel. 2 defenders in the defending zone, 1 midfielder in the middle zone and 2 attackers in the attacking zone. Again, the non passing defender enters the midfield zone to create an overload. Either player located in the midfield zone can then enter the attacking zone to create another overload.

General

Diamond formation practice Def...

Diamond formation midfield in an 11 a side game. Reds vs blue.Set up in the formation:2 strikers, diamond midfield, 4 defenders and a GK.The midfield players are attempting to channel the attackers to one side of play, to keep pushing them out towards the side and limit their options.Encourage individuals to channel the ball and contain players in certain areas and to be aware of covering other Defenders.

General

Passing by Numbers Passing and...

Players number themselves from one-eight (or as many numbers as there are players). Players must then pass in numerical order. Although they can attempt to memorise the passing order it's far more beneficial if the players call out and communicate to one another. So once player two has the ball, player 3 should be calling the receive the pass.

General

Four Goal Football Conditioned...

Play small sided game in a suitable area (e.g half field 6v6). Two teams attempt to score in any of the goals. A goal counts if the ball is passed through the goals and one of your teammates receives the pass round the otherside of the goal. The game is continued so it does not stop after every goal.

General

Pinball Conditioned games - Fo...

Team stay in own half, except for 2 players from each team who are put in the other section. Each team shoots at earliest opportunity. Start the game with one ball and build it up to a number of balls. The two players in the opposite half score from rebounds or interceptions.

General

Corner Football Passing and Re...

Teams are made up of 3 players. Each team will look to attack the opposition goal in the opposite corner of the pitch. This will involve good passing and switching of the play.

General

Finding space - Team exercise ...

Player 2 curves their run away from the passer before then cutting back to the ball. Player 2 receives the ball and turns towards goal in 1 fluid motion. Player 2 then delivers a cross for the waiting centre forward.

General

Diamond Midfield Channelling D...

Red team vs Blue team.Set up a diamond midfield formation2 strikers, 4 midfield, 4 defenders.Set up cones as shown on the diagram(3 sets of cones. 2 pairs before the top of the diamond numbered &quot;1&quot;, one pair of cones lower down in the middle of the diamond numbered &quot;2&quot;)Works on the Defence channelling the ball into certain areas.The 2 red team strikers try to stop the blue team from playing the ball through either of the &quot;1&quot; cones, so that play is encouraged into a central area (top of the diamond).Once the blue player with the ball has reached the top of the diamond, players will looks to direct him <em>outside</em> of the &quot;2&quot; cones and into wide areas (occupied by the 2 red wide midfielders).Red fullbacks need to recognise where the ball is going and move into an advanced wide position to put pressure on opposition's wide players.By doing this the red team are attempting to dictate how the ball moves.Play for half an hour.

General

Safe House 2 Defending - Footb...

The 4 players inside the blue square must protect the square and stop the ball carriers entering. To begin with the players inside the square are only allowed to shadow and block the outside players from entering. One point is scored by each player who successfully carries out their objective. If the defender wins the ball then the players switch roles.

General

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channel SESSIONS
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Channelling the opposition

Develop your defenders understanding of how to channel the attackers away from danger areas to slow down attacks and isolate the opposition players.

Developing Quick Play

Play with a tempo that the opposition can?t handle. Discover combinations on the field to get the ball moving quickly and cut open defences.

Team Shape Out Of Possession ? Defending Principles

To develop players' understanding of their roles and responsibilities when out of possession - in regards to team shape and organisation.

Working as a Defensive Unit

Drum in the defensive roles and responsibilities of your players and make sure they understand what you want from them in order to win the ball back and turn defence into attack.

Defending counter attacks

Make the right decisions and recognise where the main threat is when defending counter attacks. Develop your players awareness on the field to channel the danger away from goal.

Individual defensive awareness

Defenders shouldn’t need to make last-ditch tackles. Develop their positional and match awareness so they can dictate the play with the opposition attackers.

Defensive Balance and Compactness

Create defenders capable to reading the game effectively and making the right decisions as to where to tackle or where to channel the attackers to slow them down. This stems from their balance and team structure which this session looks to develop.

Defending the Attacks: Body Shape and Technique Session

Develop a fortress-like defence with this individual and team defending session to hold off the attack!
channel ANSWERS
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how can I progress this session?

Cedric Pisani Coach, Malta

Subscription payment via incorrect channel

I have cancelled my subscription due to no longer coaching this season, I will however return when I am with my next club as I have found this to be a service i rely upon to be organised for my team

Tiffany Gordon Coach, Australia

Defending drills

Does anyone know any good defending drills not for a team but for an individual it has been hard to find any drills other than the basics of defending and some ones to do with jockeying and body positioning.

Isaac Goodrich Coach, Australia

How do I teach channel passing...

What are some good drills to teach 10/11 year olds how to identify and pass into the channels? Asked using Sportplan on Mobile

Archived User Coach

STRIKER VS DEFENDER SESSION HE...

IS THERE ANY SESSIONS THAT CAN IMPROVE STRIKERS AND DEFENDERS IN 1V1 SITUATIONS FROM CROSSES AND FROM STRAIGHT ON

Tom England Coach, England

What activities will improve m...

what type of activities will inprove my defence

amelia Coach, England

How can i teach the team not t...

I am a coach with a U12 girls team, we are having difficulty keeping them in their zones...they all rush to where the ball is and the other team passes into the open area and then socre.

Archived User Coach

Beating the press u10 | Sportp...

Hi,Wondering if you can offer some tips on how to beat the press. Doing u10 football and play the retreat line. But by the time the goalie has passed it out and the defend has little to to find the right pass. Any help would be appreciated Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

paulbhunter2001hotmailcom Coach, England

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