Liverpool FC Academy

Coaching Booklet

January 2018

Welcome to the Liverpool FC Academy coaching booklet.

The aim of the booklet is to share some of our favourite prac=ces for players in the founda=on
phase age groups u5 - 11yrs.

We hope you enjoy the prac=ces in this booklet and use them to develop the young players
within your club/organisa=on. Please feel free to forward this booklet onwards to other
coaches inside your clubs or coaching colleagues within youth development.

Yours in Football

Michael Beale
Founda=on Phase Head of Coaching
Michael.beale@liverpoolfc.com

Ian Barrigan
Head of Pre Academy Recruitment & player reten=on
Ian.barrigan@liverpoolfc.com

Wayne Woods
Grassroots Recruitment Coordinator u9-13
Wayne.woods@liverpoolfc.com

James Williams
U8 Head coach & schools coordinator
James.williams@liverpoolfc.com



Contents
1V1 GAMES EQUIPMENT
1.  Twist & Turn The following equipment is required to
2.  Man Marker be able to run the games in this booklet
3.  1v1 Alley
4.  Luis Suarez Balls
5.  1v1 Box Bibs
6.  Two to beat Cones
7.  Recovering Defender Two Goals
8.  Right or le\ dribble 4 Mini Goals
OVERLOAD GAMES Poles/Flags (cones can be used)
1.  2v1 Choice
2.  2v1 Alley
3.  2v1 Overload
4.  2v1 / 1v2 Crossways
5.  3v2 / 4v3 Counters
6.  3v2 Choice
7.  3v2 Waves
8.  Overload Con=nuous
SMALL SIDED GAMES
1.  Scoring Advantage
2.  3v3 Switch Games
3.  4 Team Round Robin
4.  Wide or Central A^ack
5.  Dribblers Game
6.  5 Team Goal & Out
7.  Ul=mate 4v4 Game
8.  Dribble or Pass
1v1 Games
1. 2.

Twist and Turn Man Marker

•  Each team is split into two groups of three players .Two servers •  3 teams of 4 – Blues/Red/Green as shown in the diagram. One
(coaches or goalkeepers) are placed as shown in the diagram. blue player and one red player go into each corner and play man
to man.
•  To start, the server passes the ball into the pitch for the red
player to receive. The blue player runs behind the red player •  Each corner is given a number 1,2,3,4 and this is the order in
and works as a defender. which they enter the playing area. The green team are the neutral
players.
•  The aim for the red player is to turn and dribble into one of the
two boxes to score a goal. The blue player must try to tackle the •  To start, a green player passes into the area for group 1 to
red player and dribble forward into one of the two boxes in compete for possession. In the diagram, the red player gets to the
order to score. Once completed, the opposite server passes a ball first and must now twist and turn to keep possession. The aim
ball into the pitch for the next red player to receive. for the red player is to pass out to another green (neutral player).
The prac=ce now works in a con=nuous mo=on.
3. 4.

1v1 Alley Luis Suarez

•  1v1 dribbling alleys •  One a^acker (red) one defender (blue) and one coach (black) are
used in this prac=ce, along with a goalkeeper
•  Pitch 1 – The a^acker must beat three defenders in order to
score a point. The defenders are only allowed to defend inside •  To start, the red player passes to the blue player and makes an
their own zone. overlapping run around the blue player

•  Pitch 2 – The defender in the first zone must pass to the •  The blue player now passes to the coach and makes an
a^acker in the second zone and then try to make a recovery overlapping run around the coach in order to defend 1v1
run to defend. The a^acker must receive back foot and then
dribble at top speed to beat the defender in the third zone to •  The coach make a wall pass for the red a^acker. On arriving at the
score past the goalkeeper. ball, the red player can shoot, or you can feint and shi\ the ball
past the defender to shoot.
5. 6.

1v1 Box Two To Beat

•  Two players enter the box and play 1v1 with the support of the •  Two players enter the box
two neutral green players
•  The coach passes a ball into the box for the players to compete
•  The aim of this game is to use close control, skill and movement 1v1 in order to dribble over the opponents end line.
in order to outplay your direct opponents 1v1 in the box by
using the outside players to keep possession 3v1 •  If successful, the player now goes 1v1 with the second defender in
order to try and score a goal
•  This game is very intense and should only be played for short
bouts of 30-40 seconds. •  However, if the second opponent recovers the ball, they are free
to pass back into the box to the opposite player who can turn to
go 1v1 on the opposite goal.

7. 8.

Recovering Defender Right Or Left Dribble

•  The blue defender must pass the ball to the le\ or right of the •  The defender passes diagonally to the a^acker and runs to defend
red a^acker 1v1

•  Immediately, the red a^acker runs a\er the ball and a^empts •  The a^acker must try to beat the defender on the right or le\ in
to dribble and score a goal order to dribble into the next zone.

•  The blue defender must run through the gate (marked with •  Now the a^acker goes 1v1 with the defender in the next zone
flags in the diagram) and recover to defend 1v1
•  The ini=al defender always becomes the next a^acker

•  The ini=al a^acker must now become the defender in the zone
they a^acked in and the defender in the second zone goes out.
Overload Games
 1. 2.

2v1 Choice 2v1 Alley

•  Groups of three players. Two goalkeepers. •  Eight a^ackers, two defenders and two goalkeepers. The
a^ackers work in pairs. The two defenders work in one half
•  The groups of players must line up with the middle player in each.
possession of the ball and the two other players either side
(approximately 6yds). •  To start, two a^ackers enter the pitch and try to score a goal as
quickly as possible. The a^ackers must play 2v1 in the first zone
•  The middle player has the choice and can pass to either of the and then 2v1 in the second zone to score. When the ball passes
side players to create a 2v1 a^ack. The player not receiving the the first zone, the defender is free to run back and help the
pass must immediately defend 1v2. defender in the second zone to make the game 2v2. If the
defenders regain the ball, they can score in the opposite goal in
•  For the next turn, the defender becomes the middle player and order to change roles with the two red a^ackers.
now has the choice of who to a^ack with 2v1.
 3. 4.

2v1 Overlap 2v1 / 1v2 Crossways

•  To start, the red defender passes out to the blue a^ackers and •  Blue team vs red team
then runs to defend 1v2
•  The blue team a^ack 2v1 and defend 2v1
•  The blue player that receives the ball, passes to the second blue
player and completes an overlapping run •  The red team defend 1v2 and a^ack 1v2

•  Now a 2v1 a^ack commences •  To start, two blue players a^ack the red player in a 2v1 situa=on,
when a goal is scored, the red defender regains the ball or the ball
leaves the pitch – then – immediately a new red player enters the
pitch to a^ack 1v2 against the two blue defenders.

 5. 6.

3v2 / 4v3 Counters 3v2 Choice Game

•  Two teams of players and two goalkeepers. The teams are •  Two goalkeepers. Six red players and six blue players posi=oned
posi=oned as shown in the diagram. as shown in the diagram. Four white players on the middle line
opposite the coach.
•  The red team a^acks 3v2 against the blue defenders.
•  To start, two blue and two red players enter the pitch and a white
•  The game is played un=l a goal is scored, the goalkeeper saves a player goes to the centre point. The coach passes to the white
shot or the ball leaves play. player who must pass with one touch to the team they wish to
join for a 3v2 situa=on.
•  Now, two addi=onal blue players enter the pitch and create a fast
4v3 situa=on in the opposite direc=on. •  Immediately, the 3v2 game commences un=l the ball leaves the
area. If the defending team regain the ball, then the white player
•  Once the 4v3 is completed. The players exit the pitch and a new changes teams and creates a 3v2 situa=on for this team to a^ack.
group of red and blue players re-start the game.
7. 8.

Ball Red V Blue

1 1 V GK

2 1 V 2

3 3 V 2

4 3 V 4

5 4 v 4

3v2 Waves Overloads Game

•  Three teams of three players and two goalkeepers.
•  Two teams of four players and two goalkeepers
•  When a^acking, all three players are used by the a^acking
team. •  The teams take turns to a^ack with an overload situa=on (see
above for the sequence of balls and overloads).
•  When defending, only two players are used. The extra player
must wait by the goal and change a\er ball is defended. •  When all players are in the pitch, a 5 minute game con=nues.

•  To start, the red team has six (3v2) a^acking situa=ons at high •  The teams set up as follows in order to enter the pitch. Red Team
speed. The red team must alternate a^acks in each half of the 1-2-1, Blue 2-2
field (a^ack one goal, then turn to a^ack the other goal). A\er
the six a^acks, the teams are rotated, with a new team a^acking •  When a player enters the pitch, they remain in the pitch
and trying to beat the previous teams number of goals scored.
Small Sided Games
1.
Scoring Advantage
•  Four teams of three players
•  To begin, each team has one player on the pitch and
this player can score in any of the opponents goals.
•  When a goal is scored, the team scoring the goal are
given a 2nd player
•  The winning team is the one that has all three of their
players on the pitch and has just scored a goal (in
simple terms, the first team to score 3 goals)
2.
3v3 Switch Games
•  Two teams of six players and two goalkeepers
•  Each team is divided into two groups of three players
•  Each team has three players in each half of the pitch
•  The coach starts by serving a ball into one half of the
pitch and immediately a 3v3 game commences until
one team scores
•  After the goal is scored, these players rest and the
coach turns to serve a ball into the opposite game
 3. 4.

4 Team Round Robin Wide or Central Attack

•  Four teams of four players. Each team plays 3 games
against each opponent. •  Two teams

•  Anything from 4v4, 5v5, 6v6,7v7 and two goalkeepers

•  One game is played at a time (2 team play, 2 waiting)
•  The game takes place in the central zone
•  Each game lasts for 1 goal and therefore, after playing
each opponent 3 times, there will be a clear winner of
3-0 or 2-1 •  The teams can score in two ways
•  Passing into the wide goals = 1 goal
•  To start, the greens play the black team, then the reds
•  Dribbling through the central area and scoring past
play the blue team. This set of games is repeated three
times. Then the teams rotate to play a different the goalkeeper = 2 goals
opponent.
5. 6.

Dribblers Game 5 team – Goal & Out

•  Two teams •  Five teams

•  Anything from 3v3, 4v4, 5v5 •  Anything from 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 4v4, 5v5

•  The aim is to dribble through a gate with the ball to •  Two games are taking place at the same time
score a goal
•  Each time a goal is scored, the losing team are ejected
•  Encourage the players to play with their heads up to from the game and replaced by the waiting team
see the “open” gates and to also pass to a team mate
that is free to score
7. 8.

Ultimate 4v4 game Dribble or Pass

•  Two teams •  Two teams

•  4v4, 5v4, 6v6, with goalkeepers •  Anything from 4v4, 5v5, 6v6

•  Three games within the same pitch •  Each team attack and defend their end line and goals

•  Game 1 – End zone game •  The aim is to score with a pass into the mini goal or by
•  Game 2 – Four goal game dribbling into the wide gate
•  Game 3 – Normal game

•  The coach can rotate games as they see fit

Invitation to “LFC Coach Education Workshop”

•  Monday 26th March 2018 @5pm.

•  2 hour pracScal session at our academy facility in Kirkby.
•  Led by our foundaSon phase head coaches in the u7, u8, u9, u10, 11 age groups.
•  Will cover the key areas of the LFC FoundaSon Phase coaching programme.


1. Entry Games
2. Technical Hard Drive
3. Street Football
4. Outplaying
5. The Game



Two “free” spaces for coaches to a_end per club.
All coaches must be pre registered for the event.

Please contact
Wayne.woods@liverpoolfc.com
To reserve your place (limited spaces)


LFC Academy – January 2018