explosive strength Seniors soccer drills

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3v3 with 4 supports and a central player

This 3v3 small-sided game with 4 corner support players will help you work on combinations in tight spaces. Remember to regularly rotate the support players.

Animation: 3v3 with 4 supports and a central player
Using 4 cones, create a 20x20m area then form 2 teams of 3 players and one team of 4 players (see animation). Place one player from each team in the center of the field, then ask the others to spread out on each side. Next, place the 4 players from the last team at each corner of the playing area.

The exercise proceeds as follows:
  1. The 3-player teams must keep the ball as long as possible but only score a point when the central player touches the ball.
  2. The corner players serve as support for the team in the offensive position.
  3. The corner players as well as the support players are only allowed one touch of the ball.

A pass to the central player = 1 point.

Variation: to evolve the exercise, you can prohibit the side players from making a pass to a support. Only the central players can play on the support.

Variation: only the central players can play on the support.
Variation: only the central players can play on the support.

Remember to adjust the number of zones based on the number of players present at practice. If you have a group of 20 players, for example, you can create 2 zones and perform the exercise simultaneously in each zone.

Discover our explosive strength Seniors drills

High-intensity box-to-box runs with active recovery

High-intensity box-to-box runs with active recovery

20 min
1-24 joueurs
Conditioning
Seniors - U14
High-intensity shuttle runs across the width of the field, followed by structured active recovery....
Aerobic Power Circuit (15–15–30) in Skill-Based Groups

Aerobic Power Circuit (15–15–30) in Skill-Based Groups

15 min
1-24 joueurs
Conditioning
U17 - U18
Aerobic power training where players perform 15-second runs between different gates while adjusting their pace to arrive at the signal....
High-Intensity Pair Running Repetitions

High-Intensity Pair Running Repetitions

10 min
2-20 joueurs
Conditioning
U19 - Seniors
High-intensity repeated runs in pairs, with relay, around markers placed all around the field....
Small-sided game in 3v3 with neutral side supports and quick shooting

Small-sided game in 3v3 with neutral side supports and quick shooting

20 min
10-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U14 - U15
3v3 game with goalkeepers and two wide supports to create link-ups on the wide areas and find a situation for a give-and-go or a cross before shooting....
Speed training: long and repeated sprints over 3 distances

Speed training: long and repeated sprints over 3 distances

12 min
1-24 joueurs
Conditioning
U17 - U16
Soccer-specific speed session with three blocks of sprints at varied distances and controlled recovery on the return....
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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:
  1. 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.
  2. 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! 
  3. 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.
  4. 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… 
  5. 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:
  1. 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...
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Dynamic warm-ups: One-touch play combinations with support, inspired by a Liverpool training session. The objective? Improve communication and quick play.
  6. 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…)
  7. Physical conditioning: Aerobic endurance circuit, adapted for physical preparation at the start of the season.
2(+1) vs 2 with goalkeeper – quick attack from wide area

2(+1) vs 2 with goalkeeper – quick attack from wide area

15 min
12-18 joueurs
Conditioning
U20 - Seniors
Anaerobic speed work with multiple quick attacks in 2v2 from a wide area with the option to use a layoff before shooting....
Speed work with varied movements over 25 meters

Speed work with varied movements over 25 meters

15 min
4-24 joueurs
Conditioning
U16 - U17
Sequence of specific movements (walking, backpedaling, lateral movement, sprinting) on a linear course of 25 meters....
Speed training: interval sprints on various courses

Speed training: interval sprints on various courses

12 min
5-20 joueurs
Conditioning
U18 - U17
Straight-line speed run alternating short sprints, recovery walks, and progressive sequences from 10 to 40 meters....
Fast-paced 3v1 play with speed and agility work

Fast-paced 3v1 play with speed and agility work

10 min
4-16 joueurs
Conditioning
U18 - U17
Quick possession game in 3v1 where the reds must finish in a mini-goal before the central player touches the mannequin....
Alternating small-sided games and intermittent training

Alternating small-sided games and intermittent training

15 min
15-30 joueurs
Conditioning
U18 - U17
Alternating between high-intensity small-sided games and intermittent running drills to maintain consistent physical engagement throughout the session....
Bayern Munich: agility and quickness on a 4-cone run

Bayern Munich: agility and quickness on a 4-cone run

12 min
5-20 joueurs
Conditioning
U17 - Seniors
Used during a training session at Bayern Munich, this agility drill with slalom around 4 cones alternating between the right and left sides is ideal for working on different footwork....
Curved interval training with footwork on a 20-20

Curved interval training with footwork on a 20-20

10 min
2-22 joueurs
Conditioning
U17 - U18
Athletic circuit with interval training in 20-20 (then 10-10) for short and intense efforts. Used in several Premier League clubs, it is ideal at the start of the season and can be offered at all levels from ages 16-17....
J. Klopp: agility and reaction time training with the ball

J. Klopp: agility and reaction time training with the ball

15 min
6-22 joueurs
Conditioning
U19 - U18
Used during a training session at Liverpool, this agility drill is ideal to introduce at the beginning of a session (after a complete warm-up). Very dynamic, it is generally appreciated by the players....
Anaerobic with interval work in 10/20/30

Anaerobic with interval work in 10/20/30

10 min
6-22 joueurs
Conditioning
U18 - U17
Exercise primarily highlighting anaerobic metabolism, it can be used at the beginning of the season or during a post-winter break recovery phase, for example....
Agility and information gathering by color and by team

Agility and information gathering by color and by team

20 min
6-18 joueurs
Conditioning
U18 - U17
Used by Manchester United, this agility drill is ideal for combining cognitive work with athletic training, while incorporating ball play....
Fundamental endurance with an athletic circuit over 3 stations

Fundamental endurance with an athletic circuit over 3 stations

15 min
4-20 joueurs
Conditioning
U18 - U17
This fundamental endurance athletic circuit is ideal for working your players through different drills, all at about 70% of their maximum heart rate (MHR)....
Athletic and conditioning circuit in 4 sets

Athletic and conditioning circuit in 4 sets

12 min
4-18 joueurs
Conditioning
U18 - U17
Athletic conditioning circuit with 4 different stations and a focus on changes of direction. You can also use this drill with a ball....
Pep Guardiola's technical circuit with shooting and speed drill

Pep Guardiola's technical circuit with shooting and speed drill

15 min
8-16 joueurs
Technical
U17 - U18
Used at Bayern Munich, this technical circuit consists of a sequence of passes, mini speed drills, and concludes with shooting on a full-size goal....
Agility in 1v1 with ball and colored signals

Agility in 1v1 with ball and colored signals

15 min
8-16 joueurs
Conditioning
U17 - U18
A small agility exercise that will engage your players' cognitive abilities while keeping a significant portion of the drill with the ball....
3v3 with 4 supports and a central player

3v3 with 4 supports and a central player

15 min
10-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U18 - U17
This 3v3 small-sided game with 4 corner support players will help you work on combinations in tight spaces. Remember to regularly rotate the support players....
Agility and Shooting in a 2v2 Matchup

Agility and Shooting in a 2v2 Matchup

15 min
8-18 joueurs
Technical
U19 - U18
1v1 duels with a chasing player, 2v2 matchups, and shooting on a full-size goal are part of this varied and highly dynamic drill....
Speed work, one-two pass, dribble, and shooting

Speed work, one-two pass, dribble, and shooting

20 min
8-18 joueurs
Technical
U17 - U16
Another exercise used by Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich during a public training session, this circuit is ideal for working on agility: reaction time, concentration, and footwork. Your players will not be disappointed!...
Dribbling and Shooting in a Speed and Precision Circuit

Dribbling and Shooting in a Speed and Precision Circuit

12 min
8-12 joueurs
Technical
U17 - U16
Drill conducted by Manchester City in 2016 during a pre-season training session, it perfectly combines numerous aspects such as athletic work, agility, shooting, and precision of passes....
Circuit training: aerobic endurance and explosiveness

Circuit training: aerobic endurance and explosiveness

15 min
8-20 joueurs
Conditioning
U17 - U20
An ideal circuit for pre-season. Among the benefits of this routine: improves joint stability, aerobic endurance, and explosiveness!...

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