FineSoccer Drill 3

This is last in the progression on switching fields and providing proper balance.

If you haven't seen them already, please look at the previous drills in this series to get an idea of the progression.  The first set can be seen drill 1 and the next series can be seen drill 2 and drill 2 continued.

The next step is to take the field as laid out below

The dimensions will depend upon the numbers involved in the drill but can be the same in the previous drill.  The center rectangle from the previous drill still is there and has the same restrictions of one touch (or two touches for younger players).  Instead of the 4 small goals, we now add two full sized goals centered on the end lines.  Now the rules are quite simple.  One touch in the middle and before you can go to goal, the ball must go into the offensive third of the field (in most cases, the field will be set up so that it is reasonable to be able to shoot from the middle third of the field).  Those are the only restrictions (the dotted lines in the diagram above are ways to represent the middle third and the other thirds).  

By using these two restrictions, it will force the players to use width (since it's one touch in the middle third).  Since the box will encourage the use of width.  The restriction of having to get into the offensive third will force the use of depth in the attack.

To start with, you can allow offsides in the attack since you the depth but gradually, force the players to stay onsides. 

The last step in this progression is to pick up the center cones and let them play unrestricted but encourage them to maintain width and depth  and proper balance and shape.

This series of drills has been very successful when I have used them together.  Give it a try and let me know how they worked.

Lawrence