Our first session is based on teaching FOOTWORK AND AWARENESS and BODY POSITION and TECHNIQUE.

Important we establish the need to teach awareness from the first session however simple it is initially.

In the passing in twos developments once the player has passed the ball that player MUST look to the right, to the left,
behind them and then to the ball coming back to them, so they are beginning to develop their PERIPHERAL VISION.

This HAS to become a GREAT HABIT they do every second of every game; CONSTANTLY and CONSISTENTLY.

Potentially this thinking part of the game, this incredibly “simple” LOOK; is THE most important advance they need to
add to their game.

Developing the LOOK and THINK of Soccer Awareness.

Developing the Basics

Thinking one step ahead Process development (Peripheral Vision)
Individual footwork and body position
First and second touch development
Small sided game Introduction 2 v 2 plus targets
 Warm Up: Circle Keep Away 1 Touch only
Area: 8 yards by 8 yards
Progression: Reduce the size of the Circle to play in smaller
spaces to test the players
Coaching Points:
1. Keeping the ball away from the central player
2. Passing and maintaining possession
3. Different number of touches
4. Defender must work hard to win the ball; set challenge 10
passes means defender stays in
5. Body position and foot preparation is vital when playing one
touch
6. Assessing the next pass before receiving the ball
7. Call the name of the player they are passing to before
receiving the ball to show their decision was before receiving
the ball
8. Add two then three defenders
 Warm Up: Circle Keep Away One Touch only against 1
Keep increasing the player
challenge by
decreasing the size of 3 11
the circle

8 9

6 10

7
2

Players can move on the outside to help each other and open up,a passing lane, just a yard either
side can make all the difference.
 Warm Up: Circle Keep Away One Touch only against 2
Keep increasing the players
challenge by
decreasing the size of 3 11
the circle

8 9

B 10
6

7
2

When two defenders are in try to split them with a pass. This is a good warm up for the players and
begins the awareness decision making process of rcognizing the pass BEFORE receiving the ball
OBJECTIVE: IMPROVING ONE AND TWO TOUCH PASSING MAINTAINING AN AWARENESS OF
WHAT IS “BEYOND THE BALL”
Another very simple way to help them do this as well as looking into each others eyes is, within the process
of the passing and control, the coach can hold his or her hand up periodically and show a certain amount of
fingers for the players to see and to call out the number shown. Developing this awareness off the ball is
essential for the players to learn to enable them to “see the field” in a peripheral sense. This is a very
simple way of aiding this development.
20 x 20
1. Simple passing in two’s back and forth, first two
touches, then one touch where possible. Coach can
dictate the distance between them.
2. Ask the players to look into “each other’s eyes” as
they pass and NOT at the ball to see if they can keep
possession between them.
3. This will be difficult at first but it helps to teach them to
look up and not down at the ball during games and hence
helping their “Awareness” development as players..
4. They should be able to see their ball in the “peripheral
vision”.
5. Using both feet to pass the ball.
6. Competitive: Count how many passes they can get in
between them during a given time.
7. Coaching Points:
a) Head Up (looking into the other players eyes)
b) Ability to look at the player AND see the ball also in their
peripheral vision
c) Good first touch to set up the second touch / pass
d) Technique of Passing
AWARENESS; FIRST AND SECOND TOUCH TRAINING : 1ST AND 2ND TOUCHES ON THE BALL IN TEAMS OF TWO

1. Place a cone in front of each player as a target object to play

around. This also helps the player receiving the ball to judge their first
touch and how far it needs to go across the field before they pass the
ball forward again, with their second touch, to their team mate.
2. Player (1) pass the ball down the side of the cone to player (2)
who must move the ball on their first touch to themselves and to the
other side of it, then pass the ball back on their second touch. Player
(1) then repeats the process.
3. Try to make the first touch to themselves a short, tight distance
with the ball under control for the second touch which is the pass
back down the other side of the cone. Keep these continuous
rhythms going but you can dictate which part of the foot you can do
this with as previously highlighted, inside to outside, outside to inside,
inside to inside and transferring feet and so on.
4. Work the ball also from left to right so players practice moving the
ball both ways not just one way.
5. Competitive: How many successful passes can the pairs of
players make in a given time using the required techniques?

TWO TOUCH PASSING AND CONTROL

INTRODUCING A CONE AS A REFERENCE POINT TO WORK
AROUND
20 x 20
Coaching Points:
a) Technique; Quality of pass (timing, accuracy, weight)
b) Decision and Observation; When and where to pass (head up)
c) Technique; Quality of first touch on reception (angle, distance, pace),
and second touch to pass
MOVING FORWARD AND MEETING THE BALL

1. Now use the cone as a target to get in front of. As the ball is
passed the player receiving must get in front of the cone to
receive the pass, perform the movement required and pass back
then move back behind the cone again.
2. This forces the player to move towards the ball as they
receive it. This is an important movement because players often
wait for the ball to come to them in a game and an opponent
steps in front of them to steal it before it gets to them.
3. The movements are continuously back and forward, in front of
the cone, receive the pass, move across with one touch, pass
again with a second touch then behind the cone moving
backwards and back across to receive again. Have the players
develop a rhythm to this to get the best out of this practice.
4. Increase the distance between the players so they do not get
too close to each other when both have moved in front of the
cones to both pass the ball and receive the ball.
5. Going Competitive: How many successful passes can the
pairs of players make in a given time using the required
techniques?
DROPPING OFF TO RECEIVE A PASS TO CREATE MORE SPACE

1. It is not always the right movement to go towards the ball to receive

a pass, sometimes the correct movement is away from the ball to
create more space for yourself to receive the pass and create more
space to work in.
2. Dropping off to receive means in the game situation you have “time
on the ball” to make this movement, it may also be done to get away
from an opponent attacking you from the direction the ball came for
example.
3. Here the player drops off to receive the pass, moves the ball to the
side and passes back to the other player. Have them passing and
receiving both ways taking the ball with the first touch with both the
right foot and the left.
4. You can do the same movement resulting with a diagonal pass
across and between the cones as in the next two diagrams.

OBJECTIVE: AWARENESS; FIRST AND SECOND TOUCH TRAINING:

FIRST TOUCH ACROSS THE BODY AND DIAGONAL PASS RETURN

20 x 20
1. Progression: As above have the players now make a first touch
pass to themselves to the side then a diagonal second touch pass
back across the field to their teammate.
2. Two touch if possible.
3. Coaching Points:
a) Technique; Quality of pass (timing, accuracy, weight)
b) Decision and Observation; When and where to pass (head up)
c) Technique; Quality of first touch on reception (angle, distance,
pace), and second touch to pass
MOVING FORWARD TO MEET THE BALL AND A DIAGONAL PASS RETURN

1. Now have the players come in front of the cone to receive the pass
as before forcing them to come and meet the pass. (1) Passes the ball
from in front of the cone, then drops back, moves across to receive the
diagonal pass back and move forward again to receive and so on.

THREE TOUCHES FOR FAST FEET COORDINATION

1. Receiving and controlling the ball: Three touches on the ball.

First movement is forward to receive the pass, first touch on the ball is
forward again, second touch is to the side, and then the third touch is
the forward pass back to the team mate.
2. This is good for fast foot coordination. You can condition the players
to use either or both feet on this one, an example would be forward
with the right foot on the first touch, across with the inside of the right
foot on the second touch and forward with the outside of the right foot
with the third touch. Or using both feet forward with the right foot with
the first touch across to the left with the outside of the left foot and on
the second touch and forward with the inside of the left foot on the
third touch or outside of the right foot with the third touch.
3. Have players determine which feet they want to use and whether it
is with the inside or outside of the foot.
MOVING FORWARD TO RECEIVE WITH A FIRST TOUCH ACROSS THE BODY, SECOND TOUCH FORWARD AND
THIRD TOUCH PASS

1. Different routines can be established here with the coach testing the
players to see if they can do the correct touch in the correct direction and
be successful.
2. Here the first touch is across the body, second touch is forward and
third touch is a forward pass.
3. Liken this to an opponent attacking the receiving player form the side
so the first touch is across the body away from this player, and then
forward, then a pass.

FIRST TOUCH ACROSS THE BODY, SECOND FORWARD AND A

FORWARD DIAGONAL PASS
1. Continuing the three touch drill, it is now adding a diagonal
pass into the movement.
2. Here it is the 1st touch across the body, 2nd touch forward
and 3rd touch a diagonal pass.
DROPPING OFF TO RECEIVE A PASS AND MAKING A DIAGONAL PASS RETURN

1. Three touch movements, again drop off to create space in front

again but this time playing a diagonal pass right foot to right foot or left
foot to left foot. So here it is across the body 1st touch, forward with the
2nd touch and diagonal pass with the 3rd touch.
2. All these practices are designed to get the players to work on their
first, second and in some cases their third touches on the ball. The set
ups are designed also to make these touches and passes in different
directions and are a good test for them. Touch on the ball, accuracy and
weight of the touch and pass are important elements to master in these
practices. This is all designed to get the players technical skills strong to
then move them into the Awareness Training.
 Players need to pass then move to the free cone. 4 players 5 or 6 cones.

C D

Wayne Harrison Soccer Awareness

Passing and moving. Must be one touch and as fast as possible. A great practice for awareness on and off the ball. (B)
passes to (A) then runs to the free cone the top right of the square. This one is easy to do on and off the ball.
 Players need to pass then move to the free cone. 4 players 5 or 6 cones.

A
B

C D

Wayne Harrison Soccer Awareness

Passing and moving. Must be one touch (if able) and as fast as possible. Here (B) passes to (A) and moved to the free
cone. (A) passes to (C) and moves to the free cone. Observation must be away from the ball to see where the free
space is BEFORE receiving the pass
 Players OFF the ball now can move.

C D

Wayne Harrison Soccer Awareness

(B) Really MUST have good peripheral vision on this one as the free cone is the one directly behind now. (A) is the only
player who moves off the ball as play is going on in this phase.
 Players OFF the ball now can move.

C D

Wayne Harrison Soccer Awareness

As (B) is passing, (D) and (A) have moved so (B) must be observing this as he or she is receiving the
ball to therefore recognize where the free space. This requires not one but two looks. In fact the
more looks the better if its possible in the short time span.
 Players OFF the ball now can move.

A D

C
B

Wayne Harrison Soccer Awareness

Originally as the pass was coming to (B) the free space was at the top left. With movement OFF the ball it has now
become the bottom right due to the movements of (A) and (D) off the ball. Now the free space is in the middle.
 Players OFF the ball now can move.

C D

Wayne Harrison Soccer Awareness

(B) Really MUST have good peripheral vision on this one as the free cone is the one directly behind now. As a coach
you are looking for players who pass them to assess the free cone / space afterwards and not before which will show
up as a hesitation in movement by the passing player. We want them to pass and already be moving to the free space.
 This exercise is what the Barcelona thinking model of passing and
movement is built on.
Players start at 7 years old and use it right thru the ages; and even at
senior level it is a staple practice for the players.
Please read to understand the “attention to detail” required to do this
correctly.
Its not just a passing around the square game, it is so much more than
this.
We build it up to make it work with real pace and accuracy; as again; it
speeds up the mind and body in decision making.
Now we break it down to 2 touches maximum to speed up thinking and
decision making. Area 7 x 7 yard grid
 Pass and follow the pass play two Run
touches maximum, one touch Pass
control; one touch pass.

A
C A
B

D B C D

WayneHarrison SoccerAwareness

It seems a very simple idea; and it is; but it is the attention to detail that is paramount in the learning process.
The Ball must be passed around the square not across it. Players adjust their position based on the ball.
They use the cones as positional points of reference.
 The Key Factor: Body position and (A) to (C), where (C) moves to the
foot preparation cone to receive with an open body
stance facing (D) & passes to (D)

A A
A

C
C B

C B B

D
D D

WayneHarrison SoccerAwareness

Players move to the cones to receive the pass. Moving left to right the player must position so they receive the ball
with the OUTSIDE / OPPOSITE / BACK foot. This opens their body position up to be able to either pass back or in
a different direction very easily and very quickly because they are already balanced and ready.
White players signifies their movement
 Pass to the right and the player Moving the body across forces to
must move their body across to feet to be in the correct position
receive with the right foot and forces the body to open up

C A A B

D B C D

WayneHarrison SoccerAwareness

So pass and follow pass to the right and you receive with the right foot and pass with the left foot, pass to the left you
receive with the left foot and pass with the right foot. You can also change direction.
EVERYTHING DONE AT PACE and with ACCURACY, with good COMMUNICATION required
✓ 1. Because we want our young football (soccer) players to touch the soccer ball
more often and become more skilful with it! (individual technical development)
✓ 2. Because we want our young soccer players to make more, less-complicated
decisions during the game! (tactical development)
✓ 3. Because we want our young soccer players to be more physically efficient in
the field space they are playing in! (reduced field size)
✓ 4. Because we want our young soccer players to have more individual
teaching time with the coach! Less players on the field and less players on the
team will guarantee this! (need to feel worthy and need to feel important)
✓ 5. Because we want our young soccer players to have more, involved playing
time in the game! (more opportunity to solve problems that only the game
presents)
✓ 6. Because we want our young soccer players to have more opportunity to
play on both sides of the ball! (more exposure to attacking and defending
situations)
✓ 7. Because we want our young soccer players to have more opportunities to
score goals! (pure excitement)
✓ Best of all, the game is simple, can be played without adult involvement
and it's FUN!
Wayne Harrison Soccer Awareness
1. I compared how many touches on the ball a player had in an eleven
a side game as opposed to a four a side game. I recorded touches
on the ball of an average player and these are the results I came up
with:
2. An 11 v 11 game, 22 touches in 60 minutes,
(0.37 touches on the ball per minute).
3. A 4 v 4 game; 217 touches in 48 minutes, (projected 60 minutes =
271)
(4.5 touches on the ball per minute)
4. The player involved touched the ball 12.31 more times in the 4 v 4
games over the same time period as in the 11 v 11 game.
5. Imagine therefore; how many touches each player gets in a 2 v 2
game?
Area: 20 x 20
Rules:
✓ The 2 players must combine and get it to their own players on the outside.
✓ Both players must touch the ball to score a goal.
✓ If opponents touch the ball it is not a goal but they can still pass to the next two if they keep the ball they
just don't get a goal..
✓ When they score they switch with the players they passed to
✓ They can go back to the side they came from for support though they don’t get a goal and they then
must switch with those two players.
Progressions:
✓ Initially have unlimited touches for each player to give them the best chance of success.
✓ After a short while players will work out it is mostly easier to combine to beat their opponents than
dribble 1 v 1 (though we want to encourage dribbling also).
✓ The best and most effective way to combine is to play quickly which means playing 1 or 2 touches to
each other.
✓ Introduce a 3 touch maximum, then go to 2 touches max and 1 touch (but only when it is on to do so).
A give and go or 1-2 is MOST effective when it is a 1 touch give and go because it is fast and gives
opponents little time to recover and stop it.
✓ Can make it 3 v 3 either side.
✓ To increase difficulty put in a half way line going both ways so players can only score when they get
over the half way line.
✓ Introduce OFFSIDE from the half way line so players must TIME their runs more effectively.
These 2 v 2’s equate perfectly to the game itself and is a MICROCOSM of the real thing; be it 4 v 4; 6 v 6; 8
v 8, 9 v 9 or 11 v 11, these same situations happen all over the field of play so it is very important to
practice them in “ISOLATION” like this.
 A 15 x 10 area; Very tight spaces to
play in means
much tighter than quicker thinking
it looks here and movement
A
1

K K

It can be 2 v 2, 2 v 2 plus 1, 3 v 3 and so on. Here the players get the satisfaction of scoring in the
goals. Great for keepers too.
 A 15 x 10 area; Very tight spaces to
play in means
much tighter than quicker thinking
it looks here and movement
A
1

T T

We are focusing on two themes, defensive pressing and attacking positioning. The game is the first
to 10 goals. Playing to targets at each end back and forth. Targets can move along the lines to
open the angle up
 Spreading out
offensively

1
T T

Ball is played to the target and the two players move off the ball to support and go in the opposite
direction to score at the other target. Continuous play. Players in possession now move OFF the
ball to find space to go the other way.
 1
Spreading out
offensively

T T

Here we show the resulting position of (1) after passing and moving
 Poor
defending

1 A

T T

B
2

Defensive pressing from (B) is too wide so the pass gets through the midfield. Equate the target
player to a striker in a game situation. (B) is too wide. (B) has 3 jobs, support (A); stand in the
passing lane to (T) to stop the pass, and then Press (2) when he gets the ball.
 Correct
defending

1 A

T B T

(B) Supports (A) and positions to stop the pass to the target player (screens T) and forces the pass to
(2) and then presses the ball to become the pressurizing player.
 Good
pressing in 2’s

T A T

2 B

This is how it should be. Ball is passed to (2) and defender (B) now presses the ball and (A) drops off
to support. Working on the first principles of defending, communication; pressure and support.
 Poor
defending

1 A

B
2 T

In a game situation a player would not stand in front of the keeper as often happens in this set up
(designated as a target here) so don’t allow this to happen as it isn't a real situation.
(B) MUST press (2) to make it as it happens in the game.
 Poor
positioning 1
offensively
A

T T

B
2

(2) Positions too close to the target player with the ball. So the target player and (2) are doing the
same job and reduce our options from a 3 v 2 to a 2 v 2 essentially. (B) can mark both of them
comfortably. “Unless” (2) is taking (B) away from the space he will move back into next.
 Better
positioning 1
offensively
A

T T

Here (2) moves into the space behind (B) creating the 3 v 2 in offensive play. (2) moves short to go
long. Essential to play quickly here with as few touches on the ball as possible.
 Playing give
and go’s, 1-2s

1
A
T T

2 B

One of the best moves in the game. Creating a 2 v 1 from a 2 v 2. One touch is best. Short and sharp,
can occur all over the field in 8 v 8 or 11 v 11 especially in the attacking half of course.
 1
A
T T

(B) Blocks the inside pass so (2) can “spin away” from (B) and pass around the other side. Using his
body as a shield.
 Better
1 Try to use the
Spacing
space
offensively
A

T B T

(1) passes back to the target player due to good pressure. Attacking team try to use as much space
as possible to make space for themselves. This makes it difficult for (A) and (B) to defend
against. Now we are creating a 3 v 2 in favor of the attacking team.