Session Sunday
ARRIVAL ACTIVITY
Man United – 1v1 Dribbling Activity
Setup:Four teams of 2 (Red) start on yellow cones around the area
4 Blue defenders locked into white gates (scoring gates)
1v1 format: Reds attack individually, Blues defend
Objective: Red players dribble at pace and try to beat the defender 1v1
Score by dribbling through the white gate
Blues defend and, if they win it, play a side or back pass
After each attempt, Reds rotate to the next yellow cone
Progressions
1. Timed Rounds (30–45s): Players go for a set time before switching
Increases intensity & game tempo
2. Add Recovery Defender:2nd Blue starts behind Red attacker, joins after 2 seconds
Adds pressure and simulates game-like transition
Main Activity
Malaga 3-Team Possession
Area: 20x30m rectangle (adjust for age/level)
3 teams: 2 compete to keep the ball, 1 neutral team (3 players)
2 outside neutrals move side-to-side
1 central neutral links play
Objective: Maintain possession using neutrals
Work the ball quickly end to end
Encourage fast tempo, combinations & switches
Progressions 1. Touch Limit (2-touch max):
All players limited to 2 touches
Develops quicker play, sharper decisions
Allow neutrals 3 touches if needed
2. End-Zone Rule: Add 2-3m target zones at each end
Point scored by playing into the zone & controlling
Optional: must complete 3 passes before entry
Small Sided Games
Tony Pennock – Penetration into 4v3 Overload
Area: 20x30m, central 10x10m box inside
3 teams:
Blues/Grey start in central box (e.g., 4v4)
2 forwards (10 & 11) positioned high outside the box
Defending team (4 players) positioned outside the box ready to press
Objective: Central team keeps possession under pressure
Look to penetrate 4 pressing defenders with a pass/set
Then transition into a 4v3 attack with forwards
If defenders win it, they play back into the central box
Progressions
1. Touch Limit (2/3 touches): Limit central box players to 2-3 touches to force quicker decisions
Encourages movement & sharper combinations
2. Timed Transition: Once ball is played through, attacking team has 8 seconds to score
Promotes speed of play and fast decision-making