Australia vs Brazil in Brisbane: 3 Training Ideas for Grassroots Coaches

Australia’s 4–2 loss to Brazil at Suncorp Stadium gave local football fans plenty to talk about. It also gave coaches two simple moments to take onto the training pitch. Australia scored from a corner, then Connor Metcalfe struck from outside the box. You can read the Socceroos match report for the full result.

Here is a 60-minute session you can run with a grassroots team. You’ll need balls, bibs, a goal and enough markers to show the playing areas.

1. Start with movement and passing: 10 minutes

Mark out a small square and put players in groups of four or five. Have them pass, move to a new position and call for the ball. Add a defender once they are comfortable. Keep the ball moving and give everyone plenty of touches.

2. Work on corners and the second ball: 15 minutes

Use one goal, a corner taker, two attackers and two defenders. Ask the attackers to make different runs as the corner comes in. If a defender clears the ball, keep playing for a few seconds. Can the attacking team collect it and create another chance?

Rotate the players often so everyone gets a turn to deliver, attack and defend. The point is to practise what happens after the first touch as well as the corner itself.

3. Create space for a shot: 15 minutes

Mark a shooting area just outside the penalty box. Start with three attackers against two defenders. The attackers try to move the ball into space for a player arriving at the edge of the area. That player can shoot when the opening is there.

Encourage players to look up before passing and to move into space after releasing the ball. Metcalfe’s goal is a useful reminder that a player outside the box can be a scoring option.

4. Finish with a small-sided game: 20 minutes

Play four against four or five against five. Use normal scoring. Restart play promptly when the ball goes out so players get repeated chances to react, find space and make decisions.

At the end, ask the team two questions: Where could we move when a corner is cleared? Who is available outside the crowded area in front of goal?

Make the session easier to set up

A useful training session does not need an elaborate pitch layout. Mark the areas clearly, keep the activities moving and leave time to pack up.

Marcr is developing football training hardware to help coaches place and collect training cones while standing, without repeatedly bending down. Follow Marcr on Facebook to see the prototype and follow its progress.