#8 to 12

Playing the final pass

FIFA, 11 Apr 2023

FIFA
left
right

The session starts with a passing exercise in pairs. For the second exercise, the group play a 6v6, where the team in possession has to find their target player. Lastly players partake in a 7v7 game on two goals.

Warm-up: 1 vs 1, passing and shooting

Organisation

  • The players play in pairs opposite each other and pass to each other through a gate in the middle
  • They start just 1m either side of the gate and work backwards up to 6m away from the gate, passing the ball through the gate each time
  • If they misplace the pass, hitting the gate or failing to pass through it, then they return to the 1m line
  • The first pair to make it back to the 6m mark are the winners

Ways to make the exercise easier 

  • Make the gates large to begin with

Ways to make the exercise harder

  • Make the gates smaller
  • Require only the best pair to reach further away (e.g. 8m) to make it harder for them
  • Challenge the players to have a go using just one touch or their weaker foot only

Great questions to ask the players

  • What is more important: accuracy or speed?
  • Can you think about how you aim your pass?
  • Can you show me how you can pass accurately with a good body position?

Safety tips

  • Create a safe space to play

Skill development: 6v6, ball to captain, 2 goals

Organisation

  • Organise two teams on a pitch with three zones: play 5v5 in the middle zone, while the “team captain” is positioned in each end zone and is the only player allowed to score
  • The teams have to combine to get the ball to the captain to score
  • Rotate the captains after each goal or attempt at goal

Ways to make the exercise easier

  • No defenders allowed into the end zone

Ways to make the exercise harder

  • Allow one defender to enter the end zone when the captain receives the ball and to try to prevent goals
  • Add a goalkeeper at each end

Great questions to ask the players

  • Can you find ways to reach the captain with a good pass?
  • (To the captain) Can you move into spaces to make yourself more available?
  • (To the captain) Can you score quickly before being challenged by the defender?

Safety tips

  • Create a safe space to play

Game application: 7v7, 2 goals

Organisation 

  • Organise the players into teams of equal numbers and create mini-pitches for games of no more than 7v7
  • Let the players play and encourage them to try different positions each game
  • Let the players referee their own games

Ways to make the exercise easier

  • Give a team one or more extra players if you have uneven numbers or a weaker team
  • Use large goals

Ways to make the exercise harder

  • Limit the number of touches
  • Add conditions to the game – e.g. requiring goals to be scored in certain ways (e.g. with first-time finishes, headers, volleys, etc.)
  • Give one team fewer players

Great questions to ask the players

  • Can you organise yourselves as a team?
  • Can you all take turns to have a go in goal?
  • Can you decide on a condition for how each team has to score goals?

Safety tips

  • Create a safe space to play

Rate your experience

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

The site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.