Create your own challenging session

Question

Each month we will be posting a themed coaching challenge for all community members to get involved with. 
 We provide the space, equipment and players but your challenge is to set the task. 
 The focus for April is to improve challenging . 
 You have&hellip; 
 
 Space: You have a quarter of a full-size pitch (astroturf or grass). 
 Equipment: You have eight footballs, plenty of cones and two pop-up (samba) goals. 
 Players: You coach a U11 team with 12 players available (1 1 outfield players and one goalkeeper). 
 
 So, what activity will you set your players to develop challenging? 
 Comment below with your ideas, check out other members' ideas and vote for your favourite.

Richard Lewis · Answer

I would start with a warm up in two groups of six, 4 cones fir each group, 2 players in the middle 4 on the outside. The aim if the game us rondo based, you must pass though the square somehow to another teammate on the outside. One pass is allowed not to go through the square but the next pass much. Challenge outside players not to be static and make runs off the ball to draw the defending players out of position. 
 Then I would set up a pitch in the quarter available, goal at one end, three coned gates at the other. The team with the keeper has 6 outfield players, opposing 5 outfield players. The team with 5 pkayers have to be as direct as possible with the ball and pass when all other options are exhausted. The team with the overload are encouraged to pass and move their way out of danger and create scoring opportunities by creating space by their off the ball work. 
 Challenges for the overloaded team can include no wasted or dead touches, can they escape pressure as a unit in 5 passes or less. 
 Skill points can be given to the undercoated team for excellent ball skills to escape pressure. 
 You can then bring the whole session together asking players to show when it is the right decision to travel with the ball and be direct and when it is right to pass, even up the teams but keep the same set up.

England Football Learning > Youth club football

Create your own challenging session

Each month we will be posting a themed coaching challenge for all community members to get involved with.

The focus for April is to improve challenging.

So, what activity will you set your players to develop challenging?