How to Structure the Perfect Football Training Session

Professional football managers are always looking for smarter ways to improve the performance of their players both on the pitch and off it.

Players, on the other hand, need to understand that it's not enough for them to just show up—they need to work hard and smart too; finding the perfect training formula is the ultimate goal for any football team. The question is how do you structure a perfect football training session?

Here are a few tips to help coaches and players structure their training sessions.

Warm-up

During a warm-up session, the players line up in a circle with one player in the middle who has to interrupt the play by touching the ball. Each player in the circle strives to keep the ball or else they have to swap positions with the middle player. Trainers can enhance this drill by bringing more players into the middle and imposing one or two passing rules on them.

This warm-up routine is beneficial to players in different ways. For example, all players in the circle will improve their sense of awareness and communication. Also, defensive players will build on their agility, mobility, and interception skills. A 10-minute warm-up will also increase the heart rate of the players and prepare them for the next step of the training session.

Fitness

For fitness drills, you could set up a 10 x 10 yard box and position attackers in these areas. Pairs of defenders will have to enter the box and try to win the ball from the attackers. This fitness drill boosts communication and teamwork among defenders. Defenders should be encouraged to maintain an appropriate distance between each other. The coach has to teach the team how to make their passes predictable to their colleagues.

A 20-minute fitness session is enough to make players work together and improve their passing and movement. It also helps defenders master the art of winning the ball. While some athletes like bodybuilders use pharmaceutical steroids to boost their performance, many of football’s governing bodies ban anabolic steroids.

Phase of play

Set up a back 4 on the edge of the 18-yard with two midfielders at the front. The other half of the pitch may contain 4 attacking midfielders and 2 strikers. As the attacking side tries to score goals, the defensive side must try to defend well. This training encourages the attackers to get the ball out wide; wingers can isolate the full-backs and then try to defeat them.

Ways to improve the effectiveness of football training sessions 

• Coaches need to plan their sessions ahead of time, at least two days before. This will allow them to picture the training in their minds and make adjustments when necessary.
• The football team must have a clear objective of the training session, and follow the routines to achieve their objectives.
• Players and coaches should report in time for training. They should arrive at the training venue at least 10-15 minutes early.
• Teams must provide the requisite football training equipment. Examples include cones, stopwatch, first aid kit, and training bibs.
• To improve the efficiency of the training program, a team can engage two coaches to direct the flow of the session. As one coach takes the players through a warm-up, the other coach can set things up for the next routine.
• Typically, coaches incorporate dynamic warm-ups and stretches into every routine. The training ground also serves as a proving ground for managers to explain their tactics to their players.
• Technical sessions must focus on the achievement of training objectives, and small-sided games should revolve around what the players have learned.