Coach Bob's Session Builder

Coaches are always looking for ways to liven up their training sessions and make them more challenging. We want to build sessions that progress from simple to complex and stay on theme to give our players the technical, tactical, physical and psychological toolbox to meet all the challenges on game day. 

Coach Bob's Session Builder is a database of many of those great games and exercises you see at the coach clinics and wish you'd jotted down. Each is described and categorized to help you quickly assemble a session on just about any them you can imagine.


Check out the example of Monkeys in the Middle at right ...

If you'd like to contribute your favorite game to the database, which I hope to ultimately build out as an App for smart phones and tablets so you can build your sessions, real time, right on the pitch, please go to the form below for your convenience.

Monkeys in the Middle

SETUP:

30X40 grid, divided into 3 zones

DESCRIPTION:

Players play 3v3v3, 4v4v4 with one team in each zone. Play starts with service into one "end" zone. Team from middle zone sends in a defender on first touch and receiving team attempts to connect at least three passes then through pass or chip to team in other "end" zone. If defending team dispossesses in end zone or intercepts pass, they switch with that team. Teams "score" when they complete pass to opposite zone. First team to 5, wins or game is played for 5-10 minutes with most goals winning.

PROGRESSIONS:

Allow 2nd defender after 2 or 3 passes. Increase distance between "end" zones to emphasize transition from short to long game. Decrease grid size to increase difficulty for passing and possession and to emphasize speed of play.

COACHING POINTS:

• Head up to see passing/crossing opportunities.
• Pass and move to improve possession.
• Triangle (3s) or diamond (4s) support to increase options for first attacker.