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Pewaukee Soccer Club
The Pewaukee Way
U11/U12 Season Training Curriculum
Topic # 7: Dribbling and Passing-Penetration
Overview:
The team that possesses the soccer ball usually wins more often than not because they can control the game. The
main attacking principle, however, is penetration. Soccer is a game of penetration with teams always looking to go
towards their goal and create scoring chances. The activities in this topic will teach players how to penetrate with
dribbling and passing maneuvers as well as use mobility to unbalance the defense which is a key ingredient to
achieving penetration. While coaching this topic the coach has to help players realize the right time to go forward
and the right time to move the ball somewhere else.
Teaching Reminders:
• Passing patterns-give and goes, overlaps
• Weight of the pass-being able to control the strength of the pass
• Bending the ball-low and high balls
• Chip passing
• Penetrating runs-Timing the run, Diagonal Runs
• Creating space for teammates with runs off the ball checking and checking back to ball
• Timing the pass-with the runs of players off the ball
• Anticipating the pass
• Find the gaps between the defense
• Weak side runs off the ball (3rd Player Runs-Combinations)
Warm Up Activities:
2 Related Games of 4 v 2
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Two 15 x 10 yard grids are set up next to each other with a space in between
Players are divided into 2 teams and then number off 1-6
Yellows are in one grid and Blues are in the other (coach can do a ball skills warm up before this activity)
Coach calls out 2 numbers (5 and 6 in the picture)
These players go over and into the middle of other grid and defend 4 v 2
Outside 4 players get one minute to get as many consecutive passes as possible, with splits counting as 2
points
If ball is stolen or goes out, outsides immediately get a new one and start play again
Teams are competing against each other to get “high score” of passes
Players should move ball around the area and look up and be alert for the split pass, do not force it in,
rather create it with quick passes on the outside to move the defenders
This is the “passing window” that players will look for in other activities for this topic.\
After a set time of play coach calls out 2 new numbers
First team to win a set number of games overall wins (say best of 3) and losing team does fun activity
Y1
Y2
B1
B5
Y3
B6
Y4
B2
Y5
B3
Y6
B4
Main Activities:
2 v 2 + 2 (Continuous 4 v 2) to Two Small Goals
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Field size is 25 x 25 with 2 small goals on each end line (adjust field to ability of team)
6 players total
Game is 2 v 2 and there are also 2 neutral players that will always play with the attacking team
When possession is lost it immediately becomes a 4 v 2 to goal game
2 defenders must play together and work with correct pressure and cover
Attacking team should go to goal quickly, if goal is shut down then work to other side and use your numerical
advantage
So it is always 4 v 2 to 2 goals, if penetration cannot be achieved on the turnover, then set up diamond shape similar to
warm up activity, can you get defenders towards one goal and then move it to the other to score? Move the ball as a
decoy with the purpose of penetrating the other!
A1
N
B1
A2
N
B2
6 Goal Game
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Set field size to ability level of team and players, make it bigger to start and you can always go smaller
5 v 5 in the middle of the field, with 3 small goals on each end line
This is a directional game with teams trying to score in any of the 3 goals on their attacking end line
Object of game is to score goals and not give goals up
At first this game is just 5 v 5 or 6 v 6 with all goals being open scoring options
Put team into “lines” of players similar to chosen system of play and discuss game options related to this
How can ball be switched and penetration occur?
After players become skilled at moving the ball and penetrating L/R/C now add a player who stands behind the end line
This player “occupies” a goal and the attacking team cannot score on this goal, the player can move freely between
any of the 3 goals, attackers must have their head up and communicate to see open goals, can the ball be used as a
decoy to move this player out of position?
You can also reduce the number of players and create the condition that the ball must be dribbled through the gate to
encourage penetration by dribbling
5 v 5 + Keepers with Dividing Line
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Field size is 40 x 60 with a central dividing line, play with full size goals and goalkeepers
Each team has 3 defenders in its defensive half and 2 attackers in its attacking end of the field
Objective is to score goals on the other team and not be scored upon yourself
Players must stay on their half of the field initially and play keep away (briefly) with back 3 looking to find opening in
3 v 2 to get a pass ahead to 2 attackers, attackers must have good movement and check back at appropriate time, then
allow any attack after the ball is passed into attackers
After a set time allow one of the back 3 A players to dribble the ball in creating 3 v 3 in the attacking half of the field
Great game for penetration, passing, possession, and combination play
A -GK
A
A
A
B
B
A
B
A
B
B
B-GK
Half Field Gates to Goal Game
 Half field is used for this game, with 2 gates created from the edge of each side of the penalty area to the sideline, flags
or cones can be used to create these gates
 The game is 3 attackers and a target trying to score on 3 defenders and a goalkeeper (you may want to start with 2
defenders at first to make the game easier
 The attacking team tries to get the ball through one of the gates under control to score a point
 The target player moves along the top of the penalty area as a passing option (link player)
 After the ball has been dribbled through the gates the target and one midfielder go into the box and try to score
o Eventually progress to where one defender recovers back as well
 If the defenders win the ball they try to play it to the coach, dribble over half field, or counter goals
 Can the 4 use the ball to move the defenders out of position? Can target be used to penetrate and combine?
 Demand that players play at game speed, give proper angles of support, movement off of the ball etc.
 VARIATIONS:
o Attackers can dribble through the top of penalty area
o Extra attackers to teach overlaps down the flank to penetrate
o Target must take one touch to “bounce” the ball off
o No gates, free play to goal with same numbers
 The coach can set this game up to create his or her team system very easily
GK
T
D
A1
D
A2
D
A3
3 v 3 to 4 v 3
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40 L x 20 W with center dividing line, small goals, no goalies
12 players-2 groups of 6 each, each team attacks a direction
Play 3 v 3 in 1 grid and when defenders win ball, transfer the ball into the other grid and player that dribbled or passed
it enters making 4 v 3
That leaves 3 v 2 in the other grid
One white player comes back to make 3 v 3
Game alternates between 3 v 3 and 4 v 3 after a set amount of time switch the team that is the 4 v 3 team
Each team has an advantage, however, the 3 v 2 team needs to penetrate more quickly to take advantage and the 4 v 3
team can possess and break the other team down a bit more
Final Game:
3+ 4 v 4 + 3 Functional Training Game-Penetration
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Field size is 40 x 25 with 2 small goals at each endline
Each team attacks 2 goals going in one direction and defending the other direction
4 v 4 game in middle of field (in picture it is 6 v 6)
Each team has 3 players who are in advanced positions around goals (one on each side and center target)
o These players take limited touches (think ahead)
o These players represent outside wings and forward
Use format of game to shape your team system (2-4-1, 3-3-1, 2-3-2, etc.) by adjusting the game
o Example (2-4-1) = middle 4 are shaped 2-2 to create system with outside 3 players)
o Example (3-3-1) = middle 4 are shaped in 3-1 to create system with outside 3 players)
o Example (2-3-2) = middle 4 are shaped in 2-1-1 to create system with outside 3 players)
Discuss passing angles, diamonds, etc.
Can be used functionally to put a starting team together, etc.
Goals can also be end line, gates, or a set number of passes before playing to target, etc. Be creative in setting it up for
how you want your team to penetrate, but show your team in your shape some options for doing this