build-up play Seniors soccer drills
build-up play Seniors drills that you can apply to help your players progress on the build-up play aspect. Sign up to receive our latest drills.
Access more drills6v6 (+2) possession game with play through the central zone
Ideal exercise for working like teams such as Liverpool or Manchester City. A short passing game followed by a through ball into a central area, followed by a new phase of possession. The quality of the 2 neutral players is crucial if you want to give rhythm to this exercise.
Discover our build-up play Seniors drills
M. Bielsa: Build-up play on the strong side with a switch of play to draw a defender and release
15 min
6-18 joueurs
Tactical
U16 - Seniors
Ball circulation sequence working on build-up play under pressure on the strong side, followed by a quick switch of play to the weak side to finish in a mini-goal, inspired by a session proposed by Marcelo Bielsa....
3v3 (+1) Build-up with mini-goals and first line pressing
15 min
7-14 joueurs
Small-sided games
Seniors - U20
Numerical advantage build-up situation (GK + 3 players) to beat the first line of press and find outlets towards mini-goals....
Defending and Delaying in the Final Third in 6v6
20 min
12-16 joueurs
Small-sided games
U16 - Seniors
Opposition scenario where the defensive team must delay the attack, protect the penalty area, and prevent shots and crosses before counterattacking towards mini-goals....
5v2 possession game with dribbling exit
15 min
12-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
Seniors - U15
Maintain possession in a rondo under pressure, then break out with dribbling after 10 passes to score in a mini-goal....
Rondo in 3 zones to find the 9 and exploit the numerical advantage
15 min
10-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U18 - U17
Possession-focused drill in 3 zones with the objective of connecting with the 9, then supporting the drive to finish in the mini-goals....
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What constitutes the Senior category in soccer?
The Senior category includes all players over the age of 20. It encompasses players with a wide range of personal and athletic differences. As a senior coach, you must take this into account when preparing your senior training sessions. The Senior category marks a turning point in each player's soccer career. At this level, soccer is played with the utmost seriousness, commitment, and ambition, whether at the District level, regional competitions, or even at professional levels.
For Senior players, soccer is often a passion that requires great discipline, optimal physical condition, and an advanced tactical understanding of the game. Each training session and match thus becomes crucial and far more important than in previous categories.
Here are the objectives and some tips on the best ways to train a senior team.
The objectives of the Senior category
For the Senior category, the objectives go well beyond the simple enjoyment of the game and the passion for soccer. Physical, tactical, and technical conditions are a major focus in the development of each player, as well as other crucial elements of the sport such as positioning, strategies for set pieces, formation, the type of play executed, management of individualities, locker room relationships, etc.
Coaching a Senior team involves much more responsibility as a coach and requires constant focus and structure to optimize the development of each player as well as sporting results and to reach high-level competitions.
Some tips for coaching a Senior team
Here are some essential tips for successfully coaching a Senior team:
- Personalization of training: Take into account the strengths, weaknesses, and individual goals of the players to customize each training session. This can include specific physical conditioning programs, technical workshops, or targeted tactical sessions.
- Balancing intensity and variety: Sessions should be both intense and varied to maintain player engagement and simulate upcoming or past match conditions, especially after defeats!
- Focus on tactics: Senior players must understand and execute complex game plans set by the coach. Use video analysis, classroom sessions, and on-field exercises to teach and refine the game strategies you desire.
- Management of physical condition and recovery: Prevent injuries and ensure the athletic longevity of players by emphasizing good physical preparation, learning recovery practices after matches and training, muscle care, nutrition…
- Strengthening team cohesion and mental health: Organize team-building activities and provide psychological support to each player to strengthen team spirit and help players manage pressure, especially if you reach high-level competitions.
What training exercises for a Senior team?
To succeed in your senior training session, we advise you to focus on 2 aspects: the phases of play and the pace of your sessions. There are many senior exercises available that highlight these 2 aspects, so it will be up to you to carefully select your specific senior exercises to add more dynamism to your training session.
Here is a series of exercises for a Senior team, inspired by modern soccer training practices:
Here is a series of exercises for a Senior team, inspired by modern soccer training practices:
- Advanced technical workshops: Organize sessions focused on perfecting individual technical skills, such as ball control under pressure, long-distance passing accuracy, shooting on goal, or other set pieces...
- Interactive tactical training: Set up games and simulations that encourage players to apply specific strategies and tactics, promoting quick thinking and decision-making under pressure.
- Targeted physical sessions: Include specific training to improve endurance, speed, agility, and strength of each player, according to the time of year and upcoming sporting events.
- Training matches and analysis: Regularly organize training matches to evaluate your Senior team's performance in real game conditions. Use post-match video analysis to discuss improvements and adjust strategies.
- Dynamic warm-ups: One-touch play combinations with support, inspired by a Liverpool training session. The objective? Improve communication and quick play.
- Possession and transition play: Possession exercise with attacking and defensive transitions, known and used notably by Pep Guardiola. This exercise emphasizes developing the ability to quickly switch phases of play (attack to defense…)
- Physical conditioning: Aerobic endurance circuit, adapted for physical preparation at the start of the season.
Possession game in 3 zones with transitions and numerical disadvantage on the weak side
20 min
12-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U19 - U20
Three-zone possession exercise to work on reactions to transitions, the disadvantage on the weak side, and movements preparing for a potential loss of possession and counter-pressing....
Possession game in double zone with coordinated press
20 min
10-20 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - U18
Possession and organized pressing drill in two adjacent zones to work on transition and counter-pressing after losing the ball....
Build-up play from the goalkeeper and alternating between short passing game and direct play
15 min
11-15 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U17
Exercise focused on goalkeeper work and how players move when their goalkeeper has the ball in hand. The goalkeeper's decision-making is essential to determine whether it is preferable to play short or direct....
Mr. Bielsa: working on lateral-winger automatisms with a passing circuit
15 min
10-20 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U17
Used by Marcelo Bielsa during a training session, this drill is ideal for working on the chemistry between fullbacks and wingers, in the form of 2 passing circuits without opposition....
Defensive transition of Pep Guardiola in an 8vs7 with 4 supports
20 min
18-21 joueurs
Small-sided games
U18 - U17
Used by Pep Guardiola during a training session at Manchester City, this drill will help you work on the attacking-defensive transition in the upper part of the field....
Pep Guardiola's Transition Work in a 5v5 Across 3 Zones
20 min
12-18 joueurs
Tactical
U19 - U18
Used by Pep Guardiola during his time at Bayern Munich, this exercise is ideal for working on quick execution and exploiting spaces during the defensive-attacking transition....
Working on build-up play with Marcelo Bielsa against 2 forwards
20 min
10-20 joueurs
Tactical
U20 - Seniors
Suggested by Marcelo Bielsa to his players, this drill is ideal for working on build-up play against 2 attackers, particularly focusing on build-up play....
Mr. Bielsa: Creating and Exploiting Space Along the Touchline
20 min
10-18 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - Seniors
Exercise developed by Marcelo Bielsa and used during his time at Leeds, it will help your players learn to create spaces and exploit them to effectively build-up play....
Exploiting the Weak Side with this 8v4 by Marcelo Bielsa
20 min
12-18 joueurs
Tactical
U16 - U17
Very useful for managing a numerical advantage during a switch of play, this exercise used by Marcelo Bielsa should appeal to your players!...
Marcelo Bielsa: Build-up play under pressure and switch of play in 8v6
20 min
15-18 joueurs
Tactical
U19 - U18
Used by Marcelo Bielsa, this drill, in the form of 8v6 game sequences, is ideal for training your players in build-up play and game construction under pressure....
Transition from one zone to another with positional play in 5v5 (+ 2 central supports)
18 min
12-16 joueurs
Tactical
U19 - U18
Used by Unai Emery during a training session at Arsenal in 2018, this drill aims to work on positional play through a 5v5 possession game with 2 neutral players....
Marcelo Bielsa: working on build-up play against a high press
15 min
12-20 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U17
Excellent double circuit used by Marcelo Bielsa, which is ideal for working on build-up play against a high press....
Finding the free player in a 3v1 situation by Marcelo Bielsa
18 min
4-20 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U17
Inspired by an exercise used by Marcelo Bielsa, this drill will allow you to take advantage of a 3v1 situation in the wide areas....
Small-sided game in 5v5 by Luis Enrique (+ 1 neutral player)
20 min
11-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U19 - U18
With a clear objective, the contribution of several supports during quick attacks, this exercise used by Luis Enrique at FC Barcelona is ideal if you're looking for a small-sided game to offer your players....
Double 3v2 with pressing from a central square
15 min
11-15 joueurs
Small-sided games
U17 - Seniors
In this 3v2 (and 3v3 with pressing), your players will be able to work on coordinated press as well as transition play when losing the ball. Used by Mauricio Pochettino during his time at Tottenham....
Possession play and progressive switches of play
20 min
6-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U18 - Seniors
This small-sided game with a numerical advantage and progression from zone to zone is ideal for youth teams and will help improve concentration while adding a competitive element....
Creating a numerical advantage in a possession game across 3 zones
25 min
15-21 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - U18
Used by Guardiola at FC Barcelona (B team) in 2008, this possession exercise with a numerical advantage is perfect for training your players to utilize the advantage of numbers during an attacking phase....
6v6 (+2) possession game with play through the central zone
20 min
12-16 joueurs
Tactical
U19 - U18
Ideal exercise for working like teams such as Liverpool or Manchester City. A short passing game followed by a through ball into a central area, followed by a new phase of possession. The quality of the 2 neutral players is crucial if you want to give rhythm to this exercise....
Tracking back by forwards and involvement in build-up play
15 min
12-14 joueurs
Tactical
U19 - U17
Through this exercise, your forwards practice participating in the collective build-up play and the optimal timing of the off-the-ball run on the wings....
Positioned Attack and Offensive Movements (8v8)
15 min
12-16 joueurs
Tactical
Seniors - U19
Excellent 8v8 game exercise, your players enhance their creativity and ability to identify, based on their position, the most effective paths to attack the opponent's goal. This exercise also allows the team to work on offensive movements in line with the required style of play....
Pressing and Counterattack Work in 8v8
15 min
16-18 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - U16
In an 8v8 setup with one team playing without a goalkeeper, your players practice counterattacking and pressing with a numerical advantage, as well as maintaining possession under opponent pressing....
Double 2v2 and Shooting on Full-Size Goal
25 min
16-18 joueurs
Tactical
Seniors - U19
Through a double 2v2, your players practice defensive recovery (defenders) as well as combinations and shooting (attackers)....
Positional attack and movements between the lines
15 min
6-8 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U19
By placing cones that should not be touched, this drill is ideal for training your forwards in building a set attack and optimizing movements between the lines. Additionally, they practice shooting in front of the goal....
Other sub-theme Seniors soccer drills
Seniors Agility soccer drills
- 3v3 with 4 supports and a central player
- Circuit training: aerobic endurance and explosiveness
- Pep Guardiola's off-the-ball agility with speed and coordination work
Seniors Attacking transition soccer drills
- Shooting under pressure in 4v2 on 4 small goals
- Attacking transition and game awareness
- Defensive-attacking transition: switch of play with possession in 2 areas
Seniors Circuit soccer drills
- Speed work with varied movements over 25 meters
- Breaking the lines: warm-up with passing circuit
- Unai Emery's Technical Circuit: Warm-up and Game Awareness
Seniors Cognitive soccer drills
- Pep Guardiola's Quick Attacks: Working on Transitions in 6v6
- Possession play and progressive switches of play
- 1v1s on small goals with a defender chasing
Seniors Counterattack soccer drills
- Possession game in 3 zones with transitions and numerical disadvantage on the weak side
- Attacking transition and game awareness
- J. Klopp: Quick attacks with work on defensive-attacking transitions
Seniors Counter-pressing soccer drills
- 3v3 (+1) Build-up with mini-goals and first line pressing
- Possession game in 2 zones with role change
- 3v3: shooting with outside support and delayed runs
Seniors Defensive recovery / Tracking back soccer drills
- Attacking transition of José Mourinho with quick attacks in 5v3
- Defensive transitions after loss in rondo games
- Technical work in 2v2, cross and shooting
Seniors Defensive transition soccer drills
- Defensive transition on 4 zones by Jurgen Klopp (9vs5)
- Jurgen Klopp's Attacking-Defensive Transition with a Reduced 6v6 Game
- Collective Defensive Positioning in Zonal Marking
Seniors Dribbling soccer drills
- Shooting drill with slalom and passing sequence (non-contact)
- Warm-up with the ball, dribbling, and slalom
- Switch of play and shooting with a series of 1v1 duels
Seniors Duels soccer drills
- The arena: protecting your goal with defensive duels work
- 1v1 Duels then Defensive Transition in 2v1
- Aerial duel, second ball, and dynamic play in 5v3
Seniors Endurance soccer drills
- Aerobic Power Circuit (15–15–30) in Skill-Based Groups
- Athletic and conditioning circuit in 4 sets
- Small-sided game in 3v3 with neutral side supports and quick shooting
Seniors Explosive strength soccer drills
- High-intensity box-to-box runs with active recovery
- Alternating small-sided games and intermittent training
- Circuit training: aerobic endurance and explosiveness
Seniors Fun Game soccer drills
- Luis Enrique: Switch of play in a dynamic 3v3 with a neutral player
- Double 2v2 and Shooting on Full-Size Goal
- Agility and information gathering by color and by team
Seniors Gaps soccer drills
- Direct play with a double 4v1 and a central zone
- Transition and "support players" of Pep Guardiola (in 3 zones)
- Building the Attack: Movement and Finding Open Space
Seniors Motor skills soccer drills
- Pass, dribble, cross, and near-post off-the-ball run
- Endurance capacity circuit with ball and motor skills work
Seniors Offensive combinations soccer drills
- Building the Attack: Movement and Finding Open Space
- Getting Open and Combinations in Front of Goal
- Build-up play: finding space between the lines
Seniors Overload soccer drills
- Defending with a Numerical Disadvantage
- Possession game in 4v4 followed by a 2v1 counterattack
- Small group possession in 4 zones
Seniors Passes soccer drills
- Finishing drill in front of the goal by J. Klopp with a three-player play
- Speed work, one-two pass, dribble, and shooting
- Forwards: Agility and precision of shots without control
Seniors Positional play soccer drills
- Luis Enrique: possession play in 10v10 across 6 zones
- 7v7 Possession Game with 3 Neutral Players and Gate Passes
- Transition from one zone to another with positional play in 5v5 (+ 2 central supports)
Seniors Possession soccer drills
- Possession game in 4v2 with quick transitions and pressing
- Possession game in 2 zones with role change
- Possession game with quick transitions upon losing the ball
Seniors Pressing soccer drills
- José Mourinho's 3v3 with two external zones and passes between the lines
- Pressing then possession play in 3 zones by D. Simeone
- Marcelo Bielsa: Build-up play under pressure and switch of play in 8v6
Seniors Rondos soccer drills
- 5v5 attacking game with 4 support players in tight spaces
- Rondo in 3 zones to find the 9 and exploit the numerical advantage
- 7v7 Possession Game with 3 Neutral Players and Gate Passes
Seniors Scanning soccer drills
- Mr. Bielsa: Creating and Exploiting Space Along the Touchline
- Breaking the lines: warm-up with passing circuit
- Zonal marking: defensive positioning and team block
Seniors Shooting soccer drills
- Dribbling and Shooting in a Speed and Precision Circuit
- Pep Guardiola's technical circuit with shooting and speed drill
- Finishing drill in front of the goal by J. Klopp with a three-player play
Seniors Support soccer drills
- 3v3: shooting with outside support and delayed runs
- Transition from one zone to another with positional play in 5v5 (+ 2 central supports)
- 5v5 attacking game with 4 support players in tight spaces