Week 40

Outcomes

• ✓Players can position themselves wide and high to stretch the defence.
• ✓Players can recognise when team-mates are too bunched and move to create width.
• ✓Players can receive in wide positions with the body open to play forward.
• ✓Players can explain why spreading out helps the team keep the ball.

Equipment

• 16 cones
• 8 bibs
• 6 balls
• 2 small goals
• 1 full-size goal

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Ball Mastery

   8m

   Set up: 20×20 yd grid, each player with a ball.

   How to run it: Players dribble freely. Coach calls 'Spread!' — every player must immediately find the nearest empty corner or edge of the grid and hold position for three seconds before resuming. Repeat eight times with different calls.

   • ›React immediately — find empty space, not where your friends are.
   • ›Head up to see the whole grid before moving.
   • ›Edges and corners are the most important spaces to fill.

2. 2. Dynamic Warm-Up

   10m

   Set up: Two parallel lines of cones 12 yards apart. Players in single file.

   How to run it: Players perform locomotion moves between lines: side shuffles, carioca, high knees, backward jog, then 75% sprint. Final two rounds: players must sprint to the cone that is furthest from any other player — testing spatial awareness.

   • ›Scan before you sprint — find the empty cone.
   • ›Stay light on your toes throughout.
   • ›Spread out on every rep — don't cluster.

3. 3. Technical Practice

   15m

   Set up: 30×25 yd grid divided into three vertical lanes. Four attackers, two defenders. Attackers must always have one player in each wide lane.

   How to run it: Attackers keep possession. Any time both wide lanes are empty, defenders earn a point. Attackers earn a point for every ten consecutive passes. Rotate defenders every three minutes.

   • ›Wide players: stay in your lane and show a target hand.
   • ›Central player: connect the wide players — don't hoard the ball.
   • ›If a wide player dribbles inside, someone must fill the vacated lane.

4. 4. Skill Game

   15m

   Set up: 4v4 on a 35×25 yd pitch with two small goals at each end placed on the corner flags (wide goals only — no central goal). Teams score by passing into a wide goal.

   How to run it: Both goals on each end are placed wide, forcing teams to use width to score. Normal possession rules apply. A team that scores twice in the same wide goal in a row must switch sides.

   • ›Width is everything — central play alone cannot score.
   • ›Switch the ball quickly from one wide goal to the other to exploit the defence.
   • ›Defenders: one presses wide, one covers the switch.

5. 5. Small-Sided Game

   17m

   Set up: 5v5 including keeper on a 40×30 yd pitch with one full goal and one wide end line the attacking team must dribble across to score.

   How to run it: Free play. Coach pauses once when a team bunches together and asks: 'Who can move to create width right now?' One player identifies the space, moves there, and play restarts.

   • ›The ball-carrier needs at least one wide option at all times.
   • ›If you have no-one wide, your team is too easy to defend.
   • ›Good width makes every pass easier.

6. 6. Cool-Down & Review

   5m

   Set up: Players in a circle, seated.

   How to run it: Static calf and hip-flexor stretches. Coach asks: 'If I stood on one side of the pitch and you all stood next to me, what happens?' Collect answers then close with the week's key phrase: 'Spread and grow.'

   • ›Wide players give the ball-carrier options and space to breathe.
   • ›Spreading out is a habit — build it now.

Outcomes

• ✓Players can maintain team shape with width during a live game.
• ✓Players can switch the ball from one side to the other to find space.
• ✓Players can combine with a wide team-mate to progress up the pitch.
• ✓Players can defend against a wide attack by tracking wide runners.

Equipment

• 14 cones
• 10 bibs
• 8 balls
• 2 full-size goals
• 2 keepers

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Ball Mastery

   8m

   Set up: 15×15 yd grid. All players with a ball.

   How to run it: Free dribble with one rule: no two players can be within three yards of each other at any time. If two players get too close, both must quickly dribble away to space. Coach calls out 'Too close!' when it happens.

   • ›Scan constantly — know where everyone is.
   • ›Move away from crowds, not into them.
   • ›Dribble into open space, not just anywhere.

2. 2. Dynamic Warm-Up

   10m

   Set up: Full half-pitch. Four wide cones mark the corners. Groups of five in each half.

   How to run it: Groups pass around the outside cones only — no passes through the centre. After three complete laps, groups switch to passing diagonally across (wide to wide). One full-speed crossing run added at the end.

   • ›Wide passes need weight — firm and accurate.
   • ›Receiver: check your shoulder before the ball arrives.
   • ›Sprint across the pitch to receive the diagonal.

3. 3. Technical Practice

   15m

   Set up: 40×30 yd pitch. 5v5, no goals. Teams score by completing a pass to a player standing on each of the four corners simultaneously (all four corners occupied = 1 point).

   How to run it: Teams try to get their players into all four corners by using width and depth. Defenders try to prevent any corner from being occupied. Teams take turns attacking for two-minute periods.

   • ›Depth matters too — spread forward and backward, not just side to side.
   • ›Use quick combination play to free up corners.
   • ›Defenders: track runners to the corners, don't ball-watch.

4. 4. Skill Game

   15m

   Set up: 4v4 on a 35×25 yd pitch, two full-size goals. A 'width zone' of 5 yards on each touchline — goals only count if the final pass before the shot came from the width zone.

   How to run it: Teams must work the ball into the width zone before shooting. Defenders may enter width zones but must leave quickly. Coach counts confirmed 'wide assists' after each goal.

   • ›Get the ball wide before looking for a shot.
   • ›Wide player: take a touch toward the byline before crossing — open the angle.
   • ›Central attackers: time your runs as the wide player receives.

5. 5. Small-Sided Game

   17m

   Set up: 6v6 including keepers, 45×35 yd, two full goals.

   How to run it: Free match. Coach uses a simple question freeze: twice during the game, play is stopped and the coach asks one player 'Where is the free space right now?' Player identifies it, team adjusts, play resumes.

   • ›Width is the foundation of everything — establish it early in each attack.
   • ›Switch the ball quickly to stretch the defence.
   • ›Reward teams that use width with positive commentary.

6. 6. Cool-Down & Review

   5m

   Set up: Players in pairs, light passing.

   How to run it: Easy passing while coach facilitates discussion: 'When we had width, what was easier? When did we bunch up and what happened?' Two players share moments from the game.

   • ›Width = options = easier decisions for the ball-carrier.
   • ›The habit of spreading out takes weeks to build — keep at it.