Conditioned Match - Striker Confidence
- Author: Ian Knapp
- Age Group: U8 to U17+
- Time: 20 minutes
Introduction:
This is a simple conditioned match, that allows less confident / younger strikers the chance to get shots away with less pressure on them. You would generally remove the conditions once the player was having success and introduce some defensive pressure and eventually a full match.
Setup:
- Normal "mini soccer" sized football pitch with a coned off area in front of one of the goals where only the striker can go.
- Preferably use the size of goals your players play with in matches. If unsure, err on the larger size so we can give as much success as possible.
Rules:
- Play normal football rules, with the condition that no player from the opposition team is allowed in the coned off area in front of the goal.
- Can use a coned off area in front of both goals if preferred - depends on your players and whether you're working with one in particular or more.
- Rotate strikers if required to give others a turn.
- For finishing from wide areas, can put 2 coned off areas out to each side instead of one central one.
- Progress to removing the coned off area once the striker is having success and see if they can handle the extra pressure of an active defender.
Coaching Points (FA's 4 Corners):
| Technical | Psychological |
|---|
- Look up and pick your spot for your shot (where is the GK? Shot placement).
- First touch to take the ball into a shooting position or to hold the ball up.
- Turning - can you turn into space so the shot is on - don't turn into a defender (you need to look and your teammates need to tell you)
- Shot type - power / placed / lobbed / chipped / curled / outside of boot / inside of boot / laces.
- Early shot before the goalkeeper is set.
- Weight and accuracy of pass by the bounce players.
- Follow in shots in case the goalkeeper spills the ball.
- Unbalance defenders and goalkeeper by using your body movement and "fakes".
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- Communication (tell the player on the ball what to do with it)
- Decision making - type of shot, when to shoot etc.
- Confidence to try again if a shot is missed or a poor touch is taken.
- Confidence to try things - different types of finish.
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| Physical | Social |
|---|
- Strength to hold off defenders and shield the ball.
- Speed - making runs in behind defenders.
- Agility when receiving the ball and getting into shooting positions.
- Balance when receiving the ball.
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- Working as a team
- Encouraging others and not being negative
- Communication
- Have fun!
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