passes Seniors soccer drills
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Access more drillsCombinations with a one-touch play circuit and supporting player
Ideal as a warm-up, this exercise is a great way to get started. Remember to emphasize the importance of verbal communication, as well as visual communication (off-the-ball runs and movements). This drill was used during a session at Liverpool by Jurgen Klopp.
In an area of approximately 25x35m, set up 10 cones to form 2 work areas as shown in the diagram. Then place 12 players on each of the cones, with 2 players at the starting cone with a ball.
The 2 groups will play in parallel and each passing sequence will proceed as follows:
- The 1st player A starts with dribbling for a few meters and then makes a short pass to the 2nd player B. A then takes B's place.
- B plays a layoff with one touch to the 3rd player C.
- C also plays in one-touch to the 4th player D, who will lay it off into B's run.
- B then plays to the 5th player E, who will control, dribble for 8-10m, and then make a short pass to the 1st player of the next circuit.
- The passing sequence continues in the same way on the other side.
Progression: the exercise is conducted in exactly the same way, but the last player will make a long pass instead of finishing with dribbling and a short pass.
Progression with long pass
Discover our passes Seniors drills
Offensive "Y" Combination with Support Play and Shooting
15 min
5-20 joueurs
Technical
Seniors - U17
Y combination work integrating layoff, support play, and shooting from the half-spaces....
Short possession with switch of play and support sprints
10 min
6-18 joueurs
Warm-up
U18 - U19
Used by Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, this possession drill with a central player and quick switches of play is ideal for working on triggering support sprints....
Finishing Exercise from 4 Different Angles
15 min
5-20 joueurs
Technical
U18 - Seniors
Highly dynamic finishing exercise aimed at working on quick combinations, movements in the box, and a variety of shots from different angles....
Circuit with offensive combinations in groups of 4
20 min
10-20 joueurs
Technical
U17 - U18
This double station, inspired by a training session from Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, is ideal for working on positioning during attacking combinations. Emphasize the importance of positioning on the field, as well as body positioning in relation to the ball....
Passing Circuit by J. Klopp with Support and One-touch Play
15 min
6-18 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U17
Used during a Liverpool training session in 2022, this drill helps work on different passing combinations, particularly useful in the heart of the game....
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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.
Layoff in one-touch play and timing of the final pass in the Spanish national team
15 min
4-16 joueurs
Technical
U18 - Seniors
Exercise used during a training camp with the Spanish national team, it allows your players to work on the weight and accuracy of the final pass, especially when they are facing away from the goal....
Offensive combination work between the lines of Pep Guardiola
20 min
10-20 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U19
This drill, used during a training session at Manchester City, is ideal for working on a specific offensive combination with playing between the lines through a passing circuit....
Mr. Bielsa: working on lateral-winger automatisms with a passing circuit
15 min
10-20 joueurs
Tactical
Seniors - 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....
Finishing drill in front of the goal by J. Klopp with a three-player play
15 min
7-21 joueurs
Technical
Seniors - U20
With these 3 phases of shooting, this drill used by Jurgen Klopp will allow you to work on shooting, of course, but also the final pass and play around the penalty area....
J. Klopp: agility and reaction time training with the ball
15 min
6-22 joueurs
Conditioning
Seniors - 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....
Working on build-up play with Marcelo Bielsa against 2 forwards
20 min
10-20 joueurs
Tactical
Seniors - U18
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....
Pep Guardiola's triple one-two pass with give-and-go and directional control
10 min
10-20 joueurs
Warm-up
U19 - Seniors
Used by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, this drill, which can be included in warm-ups, focuses on three and four-player combinations with an emphasis on speed of execution....
Shooting with diamond play from the German national team
20 min
8-16 joueurs
Technical
Seniors - U20
Drill used during a training session of the German national team, it will allow you to work on several different combinations in front of the goal, with a focus on diamond play....
Breaking the lines: warm-up with passing circuit
15 min
8-18 joueurs
Warm-up
U18 - U19
Warm-up exercise used at Manchester United, this circuit will allow you to prepare your players in good conditions during a session focused on the importance of passing....
Combinations with a one-touch play circuit and supporting player
15 min
6-18 joueurs
Warm-up
U20 - U19
Ideal as a warm-up, this exercise is a great way to get started. Remember to emphasize the importance of verbal communication, as well as visual communication (off-the-ball runs and movements). This drill was used during a session at Liverpool by Jurgen Klopp....
Mr. Bielsa: Creating and Exploiting Space Along the Touchline
20 min
10-18 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - U18
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....
Passes between the lines with 2 final third zones in 5v5
20 min
10-20 joueurs
Tactical
U19 - Seniors
Used by R. Benitez during a training session in Naples, this drill will help you work on two essential aspects: finding the gap for the team in possession of the ball, and effectively blocking passing lanes for the defending team....
Luis Enrique: High-Intensity Passing Sequence
12 min
4-20 joueurs
Technical
Seniors - U17
Used by Luis Enrique with the Spanish national team last August, this drill will help your players improve their passing quality at high intensity and their ability to stay focused within a set time frame....
José Mourinho's 3v3 with two external zones and passes between the lines
25 min
14-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U19 - Seniors
Used at Chelsea, this drill consists of a 3v3 possession game with two external zones. It will help your players work on passing angles and playing between the lines....
Rafael Benitez Passing Circuit with give and go, opening, and direct play
15 min
12-18 joueurs
Warm-up
U19 - U18
Passing circuit with numerous possible combinations, this drill is ideal for technical work during a warm-up....
Passing circuit followed by shooting on 2 colored mini goals
18 min
10-20 joueurs
Technical
U18 - U19
This passing sequence with 7 players finishing on 2 colored mini goals is ideal for working on passing in a circuit format, with a cognitive component: auditory and visual signals....
Shooting drill with slalom and passing sequence (non-contact)
15 min
12-20 joueurs
Technical
U18 - U17
Non-contact drill that will allow you to work on shooting and quick attacking sequences with a shot at the end of a slalom. Ideal for adding tempo to your session....
Finishing exercise with diamond passing game
15 min
8-18 joueurs
Technical
Seniors - U19
Finishing workshop focused on the repetition of techniques with a passing circuit where you can implement many variations: changing sides, pass and follow with shooting, 2v1 situation, etc....
Direct play with a double 4v1 and a central zone
20 min
12-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U20 - Seniors
4v1 possession drill with a focus on direct play, while under pressure from a defender. A high-paced session to be introduced after a thorough warm-up!...
The double passing sequence of F. Lampard
12 min
10-20 joueurs
Warm-up
U19 - U20
Excellent warm-up exercise in the form of predetermined passing sequences that will allow your players to gradually increase in intensity....
3v3 with 4 supports and a central player
15 min
10-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U19 - 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....
Finding the Ideal Position with Passing Sequence
12 min
8-16 joueurs
Technical
U20 - U18
Creative passing game with rules that will require your players to work on their concentration and improve their decision-making speed....
Passing Square and Quick Combinations
10 min
10-14 joueurs
Technical
U17 - U18
Used at Bayern Munich, this drill emphasizes the quality of passing and speed of execution. Recommended for U17-Seniors, it can also be adapted for younger age groups....
The warm-up with 3 stations by Carlo Ancelotti
15 min
9-18 joueurs
Warm-up
U18 - U17
Used by Carlo Ancelotti at Paris Saint-Germain, this warm-up exercise is very simple to set up and allows for a variety of movements....
6v6 possession game with 2 neutral players and shooting on small goals
20 min
14-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U20 - U19
This possession drill focuses on three aspects: space management, passing quality, and speed of execution. With numerous variations, it is ideal for adding tempo to your session....
Warm-up with Carlo Ancelotti's Y passing drill
10 min
8-24 joueurs
Warm-up
U17 - U18
A very simple exercise to set up and ideal as a warm-up. It was used by Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern Munich and combines different aspects: passing, timing, movement, and dribbling....
Forward passing circuit with one-touch layoff
15 min
10-20 joueurs
Technical
U19 - U20
Offensive combination with one-touch layoffs in a confined space, this drill used by Jürgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund) was designed to develop coordination and the final pass before shooting....
One-touch short passing drill in a diamond formation
15 min
8-16 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U17
A simple drill to set up but with multiple variations. You will work on passing from different angles. Inspired by Bayern Munich during a training session in October 2014....
Speed work, one-two pass, dribble, and shooting
20 min
8-18 joueurs
Technical
Seniors - U20
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!...
Defensive cover and tracking back in a three-man defense
14 min
9-18 joueurs
Technical
Seniors - U19
Excellent technical drill for defenders to work on speed of movement, agility, and coordination. Conducted by Bayern Munich during a training session in 2013....
Dribbling and Shooting in a Speed and Precision Circuit
12 min
8-12 joueurs
Technical
U20 - Seniors
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....
3v1 Exchange, Layoff and Shooting on Full-Size Goal (Variation)
15 min
6-18 joueurs
Technical
U19 - U18
Possession, forward passes, layoff, and shooting on a full-size goal. This is a variation of a passing drill that brings together all the elements to offer a quality drill to your players....
One-two pass and forward run in a passing square
10 min
5-25 joueurs
Technical
U20 - Seniors
Several aspects are highlighted during this exercise: passing game, directional control, and movement. Many variations are possible....
3v1 Exchange, layoff and shooting on small goal
20 min
8-24 joueurs
Technical
U18 - U17
Possession, forward passes, layoff, and shooting on a small goal. All the elements are in place to offer a quality drill to your players....
Passing game with one-touch shooting
15 min
12-16 joueurs
Technical
U20 - U18
A perfect drill to work on finishing in front of the goal with one-touch play. Ideal when you have many players at practice!...
Rondo 8v3 and Passing Accuracy Under Pressure
20 min
11-22 joueurs
Technical
U17 - U18
With this drill, players are challenged to find creative solutions to maintain possession of the ball while constantly being put under pressure....
Athletic work in groups of 3 with the ball
10 min
3-5 joueurs
Conditioning
U20 - Seniors
Conducted in small groups, this exercise allows players to work on endurance power while combining a passing game with the ball. Ideal for avoiding repetitive athletic drills!...
Effectively utilizing the spaces between the lines
18 min
8-16 joueurs
Tactical
U19 - U18
This drill is perfect for learning how to exploit spaces between the opposing lines. It was designed to find the free player between the lines and in the space available created by the gap between the defense and the midfield....
6v6 (+2) possession game with play through the central zone
20 min
12-16 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U19
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....
Combined attacking play with a through ball
15 min
8-12 joueurs
Technical
U18 - U17
This drill, conducted in a confined space, allows for practicing offensive combinations. It is designed to develop team coordination, playing between the lines to prepare for the final pass....
Ball control and passing
12 min
6-12 joueurs
Warm-up
U19 - U17
Simple control-pass warm-up drill that allows your players to work on ball control with both feet and using multiple contact surfaces....
Quick attacks by unbalancing the defense
20 min
12-18 joueurs
Tactical
U20 - U18
By disrupting the defense and creating opportunities for quick counterattacks, this drill trains your players in rapid attacks and exploiting the disorganization of the opposing defense....
Warm-up: working on play with support
20 min
12-18 joueurs
Warm-up
U17 - U16
By providing the opportunity to play with support, this 6v6 warm-up exercise allows your players to work on ball retention and quick play....
Warm-up: defensive block and group positioning
8 min
16-20 joueurs
Warm-up
U16 - U18
Ideal exercise to improve your players' group positioning....
Positioning and movement to find space between the lines
20 min
6-8 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - U20
Through the build-up play of a set attack without a shot on goal, your players work on positioning and movement to find open space between the opposing lines and offer solutions to the ball carrier....
6v3 Game: Playing between the lines and reactive movement
18 min
9-12 joueurs
Warm-up
U17 - U19
Through a 6v3 warm-up exercise, your players practice continuous off-the-ball movement. They also improve their game management and their movement reaction to position themselves between opposing players....
Collective play in deflection: movement and availability
20 min
14-16 joueurs
Technical
U20 - U18
Through a 4v4 passing game with the possibility of support, your players work on layoff play and following their movements to remain available. They also practice keeping their heads up and gathering information....
Warm-up: deflection play and combination play
15 min
10-15 joueurs
Warm-up
U17 - U19
Excellent exercise for warm-up, your players practice layoff play and follow up to remain available for the ball carrier....
Forwards: Agility and precision of shots without control
20 min
10-12 joueurs
Technical
U20 - U18
By having players practice shooting without controlling the ball at the end of a run, they work on both their quickness and speed of execution in ball control, as well as their accuracy in front of goal....
Getting Open and Combinations in Front of Goal
15 min
8-10 joueurs
Technical
U17 - Seniors
By asking your players to combine on one side, they practice getting open and being available for their teammates. They also work on shooting and quick consecutive passes....
Possession game with 3 teams and river
20 min
12-15 joueurs
Tactical
U19 - U18
Ideal possession exercise to work on passing speed and game awareness on a defined area. Remind your players of the importance of communication during this possession drill....
Other sub-theme Seniors soccer drills
Seniors Agility soccer drills
- Speed training: interval sprints on various courses
- The warm-up with 3 stations by Carlo Ancelotti
- 3v3 with 4 supports and a central player
Seniors Attacking transition soccer drills
- Pep Guardiola's Transition Work in a 5v5 Across 3 Zones
- 7v7 Possession Game with 3 Neutral Players and Gate Passes
- 9v9: midfield pressing and maintaining a compact block across 3 zones
Seniors Build-up play soccer drills
- Working on build-up play with Marcelo Bielsa against 2 forwards
- Transition from one zone to another with positional play in 5v5 (+ 2 central supports)
- Possession game in double zone with coordinated press
Seniors Circuit soccer drills
- Bayern Munich: agility and quickness on a 4-cone run
- Marcelo Bielsa: working on build-up play against a high press
- Circuit training: aerobic endurance and explosiveness
Seniors Cognitive soccer drills
- Pep Guardiola's Quick Attacks: Working on Transitions in 6v6
- Decision Making and Reaction Time with Shooting in 2v1
- Pep Guardiola's off-the-ball agility with speed and coordination work
Seniors Counterattack soccer drills
- Attacking transition of J. Klopp with quick attacks in 6v6
- Possession game in 4v4 followed by a 2v1 counterattack
- Exploiting spaces in counterattack in the opponent's half
Seniors Counter-pressing soccer drills
- Defensive transition of Pep Guardiola in an 8vs7 with 4 supports
- Double 3v2 with pressing from a central square
- 6v3 Positional Play with Mini Goals
Seniors Defensive recovery / Tracking back soccer drills
- Possession Game by Claudio Ranieri on 4 Mini-Pitches
- Attacking transition of J. Klopp with quick attacks in 6v6
- Midfield Line: Advancing and Defending as a Team
Seniors Defensive transition soccer drills
- Technical work in 2v2, cross and shooting
- Pressing and Gegenpressing: 4vs 2 + 4 in a double grid
- Finishing sequence followed by 2v2 opposition
Seniors Dribbling soccer drills
- One-touch short passing drill in a diamond formation
- Mr. Bielsa: working on lateral-winger automatisms with a passing circuit
- Layoff in one-touch play and timing of the final pass in the Spanish national team
Seniors Duels soccer drills
- Exploiting a Numerical Advantage with 3v2 Duels
- Double 2v2 and Shooting on Full-Size Goal
- Aerial duel, second ball, and dynamic play in 5v3
Seniors Endurance soccer drills
- Warm-up with the ball, dribbling, and slalom
- Alternating small-sided games and intermittent training
- 2(+1) vs 2 with goalkeeper – quick attack from wide area
Seniors Explosive strength soccer drills
- 3v3 with 4 supports and a central player
- Fundamental endurance with an athletic circuit over 3 stations
- Dribbling and Shooting in a Speed and Precision Circuit
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
- Duel Training by V. Del Bosque in 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3
Seniors Gaps soccer drills
- Positioning and movement to find space between the lines
- Attacking to defensive transition with a 5v3 in a dual zone
- Possession game in 2 zones with role change
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
- Build-up play: finding space between the lines
- Offensive combination with short passing game, overlap, and shooting
- Getting Open and Combinations in Front of Goal
Seniors Overload soccer drills
- 6v3 Game: Playing between the lines and reactive movement
- Tracking back in 1v1 situations with variations by Jurgen Klopp
- 5v2 possession game with dribbling exit
Seniors Positional play soccer drills
- Small-sided game in 3v3 with neutral side supports and quick shooting
- 6v6 possession game with 2 neutral players and shooting on small goals
- Luis Enrique: possession play in 10v10 across 6 zones
Seniors Possession soccer drills
- Possession game and attacking transition with 3 teams of 5
- 5v2 possession game with dribbling exit
- Possession Game by Claudio Ranieri on 4 Mini-Pitches
Seniors Pressing soccer drills
- Possession game in 2 zones with role change
- Build-up and transition in 5v3
- Attacking transition: pressing and ball circulation
Seniors Rondos soccer drills
- Small group possession in 4 zones
- Rondo 8v3 and Passing Accuracy Under Pressure
- Possession game and attacking transition with 3 teams of 5
Seniors Scanning soccer drills
- Warm-up: defensive block and group positioning
- Finishing Exercise from 4 Different Angles
- J. Klopp: agility and reaction time training with the ball
Seniors Shooting soccer drills
- Layoff in one-touch play and timing of the final pass in the Spanish national team
- Quick Attacks Against a Team Defending in a Low Block (5v5)
- Decision Making and Reaction Time with Shooting in 2v1
Seniors Support soccer drills
- Warm-up: working on play with support
- Short passing game and direct play with support
- Small-sided game in 3v3 with neutral side supports and quick shooting