Team Play

Team always takes first priority over the individual. Teaching soccer formations, systems of play, team shape, and group tactics, that is, team play, rather than individual play no matter what the individual talent level of teams are will set your team apart.

Through drills that focus on training your players as a team, you will equip your team with an enriched tactical understanding that will translate into a more fluid, organized performance on game day.  Players should adopt their normal game day positions in order to replicate and reinforce how they play in actual games.

Formation based training is best utilized when it progresses from getting the ball to target players, to setting up miniature goals, progressing to full size goals and ending with a well paced full team scrimmage. This approach is used whichever formation you want play.

Formation based soccer training works on formations, systems and tactics at the same time. It blends them all together into small sided group training so that on match day your players will have a more developed understanding of their positions and how to play more smoothly as a team.

It's a team oriented training which prepares a team for game day while also developing soccer players technically and tactically. Whether you play 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, high pressure or low pressure defense or want to coach a particular theme, such as dribbling, passing or third man runs, every system and formation can be taught using the formation based training.

I personally use this type of training on practice day before the game. This approach enables your players to spend more time playing in the positions they adopt on game day. The result is that they will gain a deeper understanding of their position's responsibilities, how their teammates play and the requirements of your formation. The result is a team where players are in the right positions at the right times, your team keeps its shape and able to play a more tactically developed game on match day.


Team over group, group over individual. That's why is called 'Team Sports".

1 - Functional Training - Central Midfield

Time: 20 MINS (3 minute rotation for target players)

Conditions: Players are challenged to play different patterns leading up to goal. Most patterns required a combination with the central midfield player and the wide mid/forward.

Coaching Points: Technical perfection, game speed and surprise elements.


2 - Pattern Play

Time: 20 MINS

Conditions: Players are shown a set series of patterns, they are then encouraged to complete them at game speed.

Coaching Points: Technical perfection is encouraged, players perform at speed, intensity is encouraged at all time.


3 - Small Sided Game 7V7 + 3

Time: 20 MINS (3 minute rotation for target players)

Conditions: Players are challenged to find targets before they could score. The area is tight and compact.

Coaching Points: Technical perfection is encouraged, 1-touch and combination play desired.