Athens Soccer Drills

These primary drills will be used throughout the season. Drills will also be created on the fly for what needs to be worked on. We
will also be going through formation/transition as a team when season starts.
Drill Name Explanation Layout-Design for Implementation
Rondo

Know this
This will be
done every
day for
practice and
as a warm-
up for
soccer
games.

A game where one group of players has the ball while in
numerical superiority (3v1, 5v2, 5v5+2 etc ) over
another group of players. This is a setup by making a
square grid using cones to dictate the area of
movement allowed.

Offensive Traits:
Movement on & off the ball creating space to
receive passes
Checking to an away from a player
Receiving a pass across your body
Defensive Traits:
Builds awareness and decision-making when to
step to the ball
Provides the defender learning how to cut-off
angles thus allowing the offensive players to
pass so they can shut down angles and
potentially take the ball away





First Passing Line - to the nearest player, low risk
Second Passing Line - to a player, going past the defender, medium risk
Third Passing Line - between defenders, split pass, higher risk
The Y Drill

Know this
This will be
done for
warm-up
every time
before a
soccer game
This drill works as a rotational Y shape where players
are working on passing to feet as well as in space in a
fluid fashion. This drill alternates sides of which you
will be passing to. Same movement on the right as the
left. Hence when looking at the layout of the drill it is
shaped like a Y.

Traits:
Builds speed of play for transition
Working on one and two touch passing
Connecting wall passes


1 - 5 are the passing lanes from sequential order.
Body Out

* Will be
worked on
at practice
only
This drill works on being aggressive with and without
the ball. You have a group of 6-9 players who form a
circle each with a ball except for 2 players. There will
be one player on offense and one player on defense.
The player on offense is checking to and calling out a
name for a pass in which the offensive player is to
shield the ball until all are kicked out or when time is
up. The defensive player is to body out and knock the
player off the ball in a way that is clean and safe.

Offensive Traits:
Shielding the ball
Holding their ground
Moving to space
Calling for the ball to receive it
Defensive Traits:
Applying pressure to the offensive player
Physically strong (Body Out)
Causing loss of possession


Offensively allows time for a teammate to get open, slow the
pace down, and prevent an attacking opportunity in your
defensive half or providing an attacking opportunity in your
offensive half. Defensively promotes the idea of pressure to
the opponent shielding the ball hoping they make a mistake
or you winding up with the ball by stealing it.
Winning in
the Air

* Will be
worked on
at practice
only
This drill solely focuses on being aggressive in the air
particularly on the defensive opposition. We never
want the ball lost in the air especially from a long ball
or a goal kick. The ideal situation is to win it in the air
before it touches the ground thus pushing it forward
and less opportunity for a breakaway. This drill works
on getting around an offensive player or bodying up to
them so they can make simple mistakes. Preferably
getting the first touch on the ball in the air whatever
opposition you may be going toward is ideal.
Communicate that it is your ball especially on the
defense so others can position themselves correctly.

Traits:
Aggressive
Bodying out
Communication











20 -30 yard distance:
defender ~ offense ~ long ball in the air
Layoff
Shooting

Know this
This will be
done for
warm-up
every time
before a
soccer game
This drill works on shooting from outside and inside
the box. You will find yourself passing to a player who
plays the ball off to you where you must strike the ball
that could be placed in the air for a volley, a wall pass
on the ground, or dribbling the ball inside the box and
taking a shot with extra pressure from the goalie.

Offensive Traits:
Volleying
Accuracy
Striking the ball correctly
One touch shooting
Two touch shooting
Dribbling the ball inside the 18 to shoot












Player who passes the ball and receives it back for a shot

Coach - who lays off the ball to the left, right, in the air
and tell the player to take a one touch, two touch shot or
dribble in for shot closer up.

Minute to
Win it Drill

* Will be
worked on
at practice
only
This drill is presented as a fast pace drill that allows for
you to get a minute of shooting outside the 18 where
teammates will pass the ball to you from the goal line.
The main objective in this drill is to focus on pace,
accuracy, and above all a one-touch strike (maybe two
touch). This is also a mini-competitive game that is
split into 3 teams. Team 1 is shagging balls, Team 2 is
passing balls into a player, Team 3 is shooting. Each
player from the team gets 1 minute of unlimited
shooting. Those who score the most points win after all
3 teams have shot.

Offensive Traits:
One touch shooting
Two touch shooting
Accuracy/Power
Speed of play












Grid you must stay in is marked for the shooters outside the
18.