🎉 Stopping Penetration (CDM) | 89-P2

This practice enhances our CDM's proficiency in stopping penetrating passes and executing vital interceptions. We start by segmenting the field into three 5-yard zones and dividing players into two teams. 1 player, acting as the working player, positions themselves in front of mannequins. Coaches deliver passes with force, aiming for the mannequins. If the CDM successfully tackles or blocks, leading to a safe clearance, they earn 1 point. In case of gaining control, the CDM must dribble the ball out of play and return it to the coach. The team with the highest points at the end of the designated period or rounds emerges victorious. 🎉⚽️

🔥 Possession Winning Rondo (CDM) | 89-P1

This is the first practice in our "How to Play CDM - Phases 4 & 5" Theme, based on our How to Play CDM (433) Analysis.

This practice centres on refining our CDM's skill in gaining possession. It consists of two 4 v 1 Rondo setups where the central player aims to secure possession. An interception with possession retention earns 2 points, while intercepting or tackling the ball out of play awards 1 point. Following each interception, the two working players swap roles. The player with the highest point tally at the end of the set time period wins! 💪⚽️

🔥 Winger/Fullback Driving Down The Line | 1 to 1-P13

How comfortable are your players with progressing play forward when in wide areas? This individual practice focuses specifically on our wingers and fullbacks ability to take a touch and drive down the line. The player starts with the ball and passes centrally to the coach. The coach will pass the ball back for the player to receive on their back foot and drive forward. Once they reach the cone, they can play a pass/finish into the mini-goal. Passing accuracy, sharp movements to receive on the back foot and maintaining control are key points in this one! 🤝⚽️

🧤 Goalkeeper Handling, Speed and Reactions | GK-13

This goalkeeper specific training takes place in the 18-yard box, emphasising handling, speed, and reaction saves. The drill involves alternating sprints to touch cones followed by controlled saves from shots by the coach and the opposing goalkeeper, with roles switching after each sequence. Elevate your goalkeeping skills with this dynamic practice! ⚽️💪

🧠 Process Information, Dribble & Finish! | 1 to 1-P12

Processing game information quickly and reacting to this is a crucial part of developing into a top player. This individual practice focuses on this aspect of the game as well as dribbling and finishing. Coaches will call a cone colour and goal number before feeding the ball to the player. The player must process this information and dribble around the specific cone and finish in the correct goal. We can mix things up by having the coach call for a big goal finish, triggering the player to sprint with a ball and finish past the goalkeeper at the end of the area! 💪⚽️

🎉⚽️ How to Play CDM in a 433

This animation details some of the situations Central Defensive Midfielders may face when defending in a 433 against an opposition 433. We look at the following key coaching concepts: 

1. When to Slide Across
2. When to Cover & Jump Press 
3. Deep position for 2nd Balls

We'd love to hear how your players are benefiting from these resources! Keep an eye out for linked practices coming your way soon. 🙌 ⚽️

🔥 The Finishing Square | 86-P3

This practice is designed to elevate players' first touch proficiency and finishing skills from varying distances. In the initial exercise, the attacker receives the pass, controls the ball within the square, and swiftly executes a finish. Transitioning to the second variation, the attacker receives a pass, and guides their first touch outside the square before delivering another precise finish. In the 3rd variation we introduce defenders to apply pressure on the attackers after they receive the pass. Let's enhance our players touch, composure, and goal-scoring prowess with this finishing session. 🔥⚽️

⚽️ Centre Backs Defending Crosses | 58-P7

Do your centre backs need to work on their ability to defend crosses? This practice will help develop this important aspect of defending. Working in pairs, the players will start by defending a delivery from wide, before sprinting out to the mannequins, and then getting back into the box to defend the 2nd delivery. To finish, the pair will sprint out to the coach with the ball and one of them will header a throw into the mini goal. Let's defend the goal like we would on match day! 💪⚽️

🎉 Quick Transitions to Defend | 37-P9

How often do your team concede goals because they are too slow to transition after possession is lost? This functional practice looks at developing this important aspect of the game. We start with the defenders in possession, looking to hit the 6 pass objective before playing into the target player to earn them a goal. If the attackers win possession in the central area, they must play wide to one of the wingers to deliver into the box where we have a 4 v 4 scenario. Defenders need to be sharp in transition, organising, communicating and scanning to see where the attackers are running. Let's defend the goal with purpose! 💪⚽️

🔥 Defending the Overload | 13-P11

This practice is all about developing defenders' skills in handling various overload situations. It starts with a simple 2 v 1 challenge, but with each whistle blow, the pressure intensifies as attackers flood in, turning the drill into a 4 v 2, then a 6 v 4, and finally an 8 v 6 organised attack! Defenders need to be aware of the type of overload situation, communicate to maintain compactness and identify opportunities to make interceptions. 💪🔥