Work on individual technique with passing, first touch, dribbling, skills, finishing, heading and crossing drills. Each page details the technical action, the most common mistakes and how to progress towards situations with opposition.
16 drills
6 drills
Y-shaped passing sequence: support, lay-off to the third man and a pass into space to finish against the keeper. A pre-season classic for passing, movement and timing.
Diamond passing pattern in which the ball reaches the third man through a support touch and a first-time lay-off. Develops timing, pass weight and support movement.
Waves of three attackers against two defenders from the halfway line towards a goal with a keeper. The player on the ball must decide between dribbling, passing to the support or to the runner depending on the defenders' reaction.
Crosses from both wings with two attackers hitting the near and far posts and one defender trying to clear. Works the timing of runs into the box, the jump and the direction of the header.
Alternating waves from the right and left: the winger dribbles into the crossing zone while two finishers attack the near and far post against the goalkeeper.
1v1 duel in which the attacker tries to score past the goalkeeper while the defender, if he wins the ball, counters into two mini goals. Dribbling, decision making and transition in one action.
In grassroots football (ages 6 to 12) technique comes first: lots of touches, repetitions and games. From U15 onwards technical drills are integrated into tactical situations with opposition.
Add a passive defender, limit touches, demand a finish within a time limit or turn the passing pattern into a team competition. The progressions on each page give concrete ideas.