
Player 1 drives forward with the ball and gets a shot off. As soon as the shot is taken, player 2 drives with the ball attacking the opposite goal. Player 1 then becomes the defender and uses a straight line recovery to get back. This repeats as Player 2 gets a shot off, Player 3 becomes the attacker and Player 2 uses a straight line recovery to defend. After a while, increase the number to a 2v2, 3v3 etc.
Encourage Straight line recoveries. The quickest way to get back into position and delay the attacker.
This practice has no coaching points
This practice has no progressions
in more ways than one
Deliberate heading is now out of U11 grassroots matches. Here is how to coach chest, thigh and foot control so your players still win the ball in the air.
Long-range goals doubled at the 2026 World Cup as teams sat deep. Here is how to coach when to shoot from distance, the technique, and the follow-up.
Under FutureFit, your Under-9s stay at 5v5, your Under-11s stay at 7v7 and your Under-13s stay at 9v9. Same pitch, same numbers, one more year. Here is how to make sure that year feels like a step forward rather than a repeat.