Nya Kirby (Crystal Palace & England u17 World Cup Winner) & Jonathan Dinzeyi (Spurs & England)
During this time of year I work with many young Pro’s who want to get prepared for pre-season with their first team. As we go into pre-season I would recommend making all of your physical work functional. By this I mean make all work ball related so you get physical outcomes.
I’d like to share with you footage of some recent sessions with my clients, Nya Kirby, U17 England World Cup winner and Crystal Palace young pro and Johnathan Dinzeyi, Tottenham Hotspur and England young Pro. Its great when you have 2 players in a situation like this, this session could easily be replicated to a team session working in pairs. This part of the session shows two simple but effective practices, a Hazard (receiving back to pressure) and Ronaldo (dribbling towards defender) practice.
Here we had use of a big 7 aside, so I took advantage of this. I set up a 14 by 14 square, the only rule was that the player must get over the line closet to the goal before they can shoot. This additional condition really intensifies the physical demands of the practice. I worked in sets of 8 attacks for each player. After 4 I would give them an active recovery, keeping the ball up together for a couple of minutes and then go back in. Its really interesting to see both players movements, look how much practice they both get in trying to unbalance the defender. This is why this work is so effective through-out the season. Supporting players with developing those key physical capabilities, lateral and hip movements.
Watch the first clip, Nya receiving with John behind, interesting to see the play develop from Hazard to Roanldo play. Although he is pushed away from the goal he manages to turn and then attack the player. Nya I worked with many years as a young player so his 1v1 play is extremely developed. We should educated our players to recognise these scenarios and how to exploit them.
These practices would be perfect also for technical work, just add more recovery time.
Set Up
14×14 Square
Set In front of goal
Ronaldo Practice
How to Play
Both players start in line on outside cones of square.
Attacker checks out to receive the ball.
As soon as server passes it defender can press.
Attacker must get over line before they can shoot.
Coaching Points
Drive towards defender so you can unbalance.
Ronaldo moments to unbalance.
Explode out to get shot off.
Defender press, then jockey if necessary.
Hazard Practice
How to Play
Players set up in Square.
Server plays ball in.
Attacker must receive ball and get over line before they can shoot.
Defender is live through out.
Coaching Points
Movement to receive. Unbalance defender with movement before ball arrives.
Protect ball, pin defender?
Can your first touch get behind defender?
Faking before you receive.
Try not to come too short, going away from goal.
Use your body, big or small, sit in to defender.
Surfing position, keep ball far from defender.
Keep ball and defender moving.
Shake defender off.
Defender, press, don’t let attacker turn.
- Nothing but a football
