One of the most useful parts of this exercise is that a coach can use the same space and take players through a progression of activities from fundamental to game-related and right up to game condition, with increasing levels of challenges and difficulty for technical execution. Another useful part of the exercise is that coaches can always add “wrinkles,” or modifications, to make the exercise different each time players use it. Click on the link above to look at one such progression through the exercise “Windows.”
Purpose: Passing/Receiving exercise; designed to teach techniques of passing,
receiving with increasing pressure and “at speed.”
Organization: Best done with 16 players in a 40 x 40 yd. area - can be adapted
for other numbers and space can be changed. Two “windows” on each side
of the area – every space between cones is a “window”; one player in each
window - can be one player in every window from the same team or players
from different teams in alternating windows).
Balls Outside
Each player in a window has a ball
1. Serve ground balls, say “man on”: players in middle can receive ball
with outside of foot, shield, make eye contact with window player
who does not have a ball, pass, then repeat by going to a different
player who has a ball.
2. Serve ground balls, say “man on”: players in windows move one way
or the other; receivers lay ball off one-touch to server; must look up
as receiving to see where server is moving.
3. Serve ground balls, say “turn”: players in middle make open-field
turn with inside of foot, explode, make eye contact with player
without ball, serve ball to that person, go to a different window,
repeat.
4. Serve air balls for heading, various types of receiving, laying ball
back with inside of food volleys, etc. (coach decides what to work
on.)
5. Add pressure by adding 1 or 2 defenders who may not intercept
serves but who may take ball away if not well-received.
Balls Inside
Each player in a window has a ball
1. Play long instep drive to a window player after making eye contact;
follow pass; receive pass back; repeat.
2. Play short pass to window player with outside of foot, receive 1-2
pass back; explode on delivery of pass – window player plays onetouch pass in return
3. Play short pass to feet of window player, spring to closest spot on
touch line, turn to face field and receive ball with inside of foot across
standing leg.
4. Add pressure of “chasers” who attempt to intercept return pass, force
inside players to get open.
Note: Work/rest ratio is 1:1 - suggested interval for players in the middle
is 60-90 seconds.
Scrimmage
Half of players from each team in windows - in alternating fashion; half in middle - add a
+1 player who plays with whatever team has possession of the ball, or add a +1 player for
each team. (Limit touches of window players to a maximum of 3).
1. Play with one ball; “goal” is scored for x number of consecutive passes,
including 1 or 2 in that sequence to the +1 player(s); no restrictions on middle
players.
2. One ball, remove window players on “end line”; score goals by stopping ball
on either end line, then on one end line or the other; window players have
limited touches.
3. Add conditions as necessary.