Players must focus on many touches on the ball to get great at their technical ability, a great first touch brilliant dribbling and turning moves and passing technique.

When we begin to get them comfortable on the ball, we can then address what later become the most important aspect of the game to teach; soccer awareness training for the “thinking part” of the game.

Much of soccer awareness involves playing one touch to teach each player a one touch mentality. It is not to exclusively teach players to just play one touch.

This is a Functional set up going both ways of the field. Begin with an overload and have two strikers against one defender. Have one recovering defender to help the sole defender already at the back but who is in a 2 v 1 disadvantage. This is a good start to the session as it makes it easier to gain success for the attacking team which is ultimately what we are looking to achieve.

This activity allows for a flow rate to happen regarding PASSING and SUPPORT and helps players to develop CONFIDENCE and COMPOSURE on the ball. Development can be monitored, and progression can be clearly judged and the coach can move the players onto the next level when they recognize the time is right.

There will be many occasions where we must change the system of play to suit the moment. We want to be able to play several different ways depending on the course of the game. Ultimately, we want to stick to our own game plan as closely as possible; based on what we practice and to keep it simple for us as we dictate to our opponents and impose OUR WAY on them. But game situations can change, and we may have to adjust to suit them. Your personnel may also dictate how you adjust.

We produced the eBook "Tactical Thoughts on the Development of the 4 v 4, 7 v 7 and 9 v 9 Game Sizes" covering information on team shape and development. We now add “Soccer Awareness Coaching Curriculums presented by Game Sizes: 4 v 4, 7 v 7, 9 v 9 through to 11 v 11” to provide Curriculums in each game size to support the tactical games eBook.

This activity can start from a free kick or in open play. We work a “set play” in open play where, switching the point of attack rather than just booting it forward hoping for the best. Do this as a shadow play at first for success, then bring passive defenders in; then play real with defenders defending correctly.

This is a very simple way to show how the team movement works. ​ The main theme is movement OFF and often AWAY from the ball.​ Players position OFF the ball based on 4 things: The best spaces, the opponent's positions, their own teammates positions, the position of the ball.​ Teams will develop their style of play within these frameworks, it will never be as picture perfect as this due to the nature of the game, it is more just a guiding framework.​

Using Corridors is a great way to work out individual and collective field positioning as a team both offensively and defensively and it also gives players real a “focal point” to work off. We use “Corridors” width wise and then introduce “Zones” lengthwise later. These “focal points of reference” I believe are a great way to really teach players to understand the differences between attacking and defending team shapes both widthwise and lengthwise.

Third man runs are incredibly effective when they are timed right. Plus runs OFF the ball are more difficult to pick up by opponents than runs ON the ball and so we can catch teams out with these when planned.

​These animations show several players making third man runs; in actual fact it might be only one making this run in behind and the passer has to “spot” that run. What we are trying to show is almost any player can make these third man runs if they have defensive cover. The player making the initial pass can make the run in behind and / or other players can too.