Return to Play Training Exercises

THE EXERCISES SHOWN BELOW HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE FFA NATIONAL CURRICULUM AND ADAPTED TO FALL WITHIN THE GUIDELINES FOR RETURN TO PLAY: PLAYERS DO NOT NEED TO TOUCH EQUIPMENT OR MAKE PHYSICAL CONTACT, AND THEY CAN STAY 1.5M APART AT ALL TIMES.

THEY ARE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGE GROUPS BUT MAY NEED TO BE ADAPTED. COACHING TIPS AND PROGRESSIONS ARE SUGGESTED FOR EVERY EXERCISE.

Despite the limitations, this is actually a great opportunity to work with players on skills such as:

  • Communication (talking, and keeping their head up for spacial awareness)
  • Decision making (composure)
  • Execution: accuracy and quality

A suggested training session structure could include the following:

  1. Warming up with approximately 5-10 isolation training challenges and maybe ask the players to pick which ones to try each session
  2. Selecting 2-3 of the exercises below.
  3. For older teams who play 11v11 football, you may also want to do passing/crossing/finishing practices from the Game Training phase and just keep players 1.5m apart throughout (see here for several ideas: www.mwfa.com.au/game-training-phase-ffa-national-curriculum/).

FIRST TOUCH SQUARES

Explanation: One player passes to their partner in the box, who pushes the ball out of the box with their first touch then passes it back. Alternate feet each time. First touch options include:

  • back foot touch
  • lateral touch (across the body)
  • forward touch
  • turn out touch (if working in 3s)
  • turn in touch (if working in 3s)

Coaching tips: This exercise is best done in pairs to avoid too many players standing still. Encourage players to coach each other on which technique to use.

Progression: Make it a competition between pairs of who can complete each type of touch with both feet the quickest (both players have a turn). Ensure all repetitions are done perfectly (no bad touches or extra touches) otherwise their score resets to zero.

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FIRST TOUCH CIRCLE

Explanation: Players in the middle of the area receive passes from players on the outside, take a first touch in a different direction, then pass to a different player on the outside. Practice taking touches and passing with both feet. Swap the players on the outside regularly.

Coaching tips: This exercise can be done as a square or any other shape as long as it is big enough for realistic passing distances for the skill level of your players. Players need to make sure they communicate and only pass to teammates who are ready. They also need to keep their head up and make sure they take their first touch in a direction where there is space to move into.

Progression: Make it a competition between players in the middle of who can complete the most first touches and passes within 2 minutes. If any first touch is not done well (losing control of the ball or stopping it dead) or a pass misses its target, then it doesn’t earn a point. Consider giving bonus points for touches completed with their weaker foot.

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JUGGLING IN PAIRS OR SMALL GROUPS

Explanation: In groups of 2-4 players, one player flicks the ball up in the air, then everyone works together to keep it up while staying 1.5m apart from each other. Players must move around after every touch, not stand still. Options include:

  • one touch and one bounce per player only
  • two touches and one bounce per player only
  • headers only
  • one player heads the ball, the others use their feet
  • every 5th touch must be a high kick
  • thighs only

Coaching tips: Encourage players to communicate with each other and to always be aware of each other’s movement.

Progression: Try ‘Soccer Tennis’ where each player has their own grid and either 1 or no bounces allowed, and either no touch limits or 1 touch maximum. Players can start with a certain number of points (e.g, 10) but lose 1 point after every mistake, and the winner is the player with the highest score at the end.


TRAFFIC CONTROLLER

Explanation: All players run with a ball in the area while maintaining distance from other players. The coach can call out different challenges such as:

  • Green light, orange light, red light (fast, slow, stop)
  • Reverse (toe taps backwards)
  • Corners, dead end (turns), speed bump (scoop)
  • Lane change (toe taps side to side)
  • One handed forwards/back (ball hops with one foot)
  • Bicycle forwards/back (ball hops with two feet)
  • Swap cars (swap balls)

Coaching tips: Encourage different players to take the lead at different times and call out the challenges.

Progression: Challenge the players to practice everything with their weaker foot.

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COLOUR CODE

Explanation: All players run with a ball in the area while maintaining distance from other players. The coach calls out different colours and players race to dribble around a cone of that colour first.

Coaching tips: Only one player can dribble around one cone at a time, so to avoid two players going towards the same cone, encourage them to always be aware of all the different options available.

Progression: Challenge the players to practice everything with their weaker foot. Add variations in terms of the number of cones they must dribble around at a time, or even a sequence of colours.

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RUNNING WITH THE BALL GATES

Explanation: All players run with a ball in the area while maintaining distance from other players, and race to dribble through the most number of gates within a certain time period (or to be first to dribble through all gates twice).

Coaching tips: Only one player can dribble through each gate at one time, so to avoid two players going towards the same gate, encourage them to always be aware of all the different options available.

Progression: Challenge the players to practice everything with their weaker foot. Adjust the number and/or position of gates as well as making them smaller.


RUNNING WITH THE BALL SPEED RACE

Explanation: In small teams (ideally 3 players maximum so they aren’t too close to each other), players run with the ball from one end of the area to the other once each (and maybe back again if alone), competing to see which team can finish first. The relay can be done in several different ways, such as:

  • straight lines
  • looping around the cones (both ways)
  • zig zagging through the cones (both ways)

Coaching tips: Mark out a scoring zone or line where players must shoot from or stop the ball on so they always have control of the ball.

Progression: Challenge the players to practice everything with their weaker foot. Adjust the size of the area and maybe also the scoring zones, as well as mixing up the teams.

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RUNNING WITH THE BALL REACTION RACE

Explanation: Players stand opposite each other in pairs waiting for the coach to indicate which player should run with the ball and which should chase them. The dribbler must reach the end of the area but the chaser only needs to reach the line a couple of metres before this. The coach can use different signals to keep the players alert, such as:

  • hand signals
  • voice calls

Coaching tips: Mark out a scoring zone or line where players must shoot from or stop the ball on so they always have control of the ball.

Progression: Challenge the players to practice everything with their weaker foot. Adjust the size of the area, as well as mixing up the instructions occasionally e.g. the players need to do the opposite of whatever the coach calls.

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RUNNING WITH THE BALL PASSING RACE

Explanation: Players stand opposite each other in pairs passing back and forth one touch, and waiting for the coach to call out. Whichever player has the ball at this moment should run with the ball and the other chases them. The dribbler must reach the end of the area but the chaser only needs to reach the line a couple of metres before this (they can also then switch roles and have a second race back in the other direction). The coach can use different signals to keep the players alert, such as:

hand signals
voice calls
Coaching tips: Mark out a scoring zone or line where players must shoot from or stop the ball on so they always have control of the ball.

Progression: Challenge the players to practice everything with their weaker foot. Adjust the size of the area, as well as mixing up the call occasionally e.g. if the call is “go”, the coach can say “start” or “now” sometimes instead to trick the players.

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RUNNING WITH THE BALL CHASING RACE

Explanation: In small teams (ideally 2 players maximum so they aren’t too close to each other), one player runs with a ball from one end of the area to the other once, at which point the next team can start on the other side and the first player turns and chases them back on their side. The dribbler must reach the end of the area but the chaser only needs to reach the line a couple of metres before this. This sequence continues with the next two players and every player needs to turn and chase after dribbling to the other side.

Coaching tips: Mark out a scoring zone or line where players must shoot from or stop the ball on so they always have control of the ball.

Progression: Challenge the players to practice everything with their weaker foot. Adjust the size of the area and maybe also the scoring zones, as well as mixing up the teams.

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FEATHER THE NEST

Explanation: In small teams (ideally 2 players maximum so they aren’t too close to each other), one player runs to the middle and collects one ball (placed 1.5m apart) then dribbles it back, at which point their teammate can do the same (or they go again if alone), until all the balls have been taken. The winning team is the one which collects the most balls.

Coaching tips: Players can only take one ball at a time and cannot block or tackle each other (the game is about speed).

Progression: Challenge the players to practice everything with their weaker foot. Adjust the size of the area and maybe also the number of balls, as well as mixing up the teams.

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RUNNING WITH THE BALL SQUARE

Explanation: One player in each corner of the area runs with a ball around the outside and back to their starting point, competing to see who can finish first. Go clockwise and then anticlockwise.

Coaching tips: It could instead be a race to go through all 4 corners but any route is acceptable, as long as players maintain their space from each other and only one player passes through any corner at one time (so players can dribble through the square diagonally need to always be aware of all the other players).

Progression: Challenge the players to practice everything with their weaker foot. Adjust the size of the area.

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PASSING SQUARES

Explanation: Players in pairs with one ball stay 1.5m apart from each other and pass to each other 1-touch (ideally) through a box, sometimes from inside the box and other times outside of the box, changing position after every pass.

Coaching tips: Change partners regularly. Encourage players to communicate with each other.

Progression: Make it a competition between pairs of who can complete the most passes within 2 minutes without any mistakes. Adjust the size of the grid. Challenge the players to practice everything with their weaker foot.


PASSING GATES

Explanation: Players in pairs with one ball run in the area while maintaining distance from other players, including their partner, and race to pass through the most number of gates within a certain time period (or to be first to pass through all gates twice).

Coaching tips: Encourage players to communicate with each other. Only one pair can pass through each gate at one time, so to avoid two pairs going towards the same gate, encourage them to always be aware of all the different options available.

Progression: Challenge the players to practice everything with their weaker foot. Adjust the number and/or position of gates as well as making them smaller.

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PASS AND MOVE

Explanation: All players run in the area while maintaining distance from other players. Half have a ball and look for a free player to pass to (never back to the same player who passed it to them though), while the others are looking to receive passes. Make it a competition of who can complete the most passes within 2 minutes. If any pass misses its target or two balls are passed to the same player at the same time, then it doesn’t earn a point.

Coaching tips: Encourage the players to consider playing 1-touch passes when they think it’s possible. Players need to make sure they communicate and only pass to teammates who are ready.

Progression: Adjust the size of the area. Challenge the players to pass with their weaker foot (maybe award 2 points if they do so successfully).

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PASSING CIRCLE

Explanation: Players in the middle of the area play passes to players on the outside, receive a 1-touch (ideally) pass back into space, then move on and pass to a different player on the outside. Practice passing with both feet. Swap the players on the outside regularly.

Coaching tips: Make sure the area is big enough for realistic passing distances for the skill level of your players. Players need to make sure they communicate and only pass to teammates who are ready. They also need to keep their head up and make sure they receive passes where there is space to move into.

Progression: Make it a competition between players in the middle of who can complete the most passes within 2 minutes. If any pass misses its target or two balls are passed to the same player at the same time, then it doesn’t earn a point. Consider giving bonus points for passes completed with their weaker foot.

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SHOOTING CIRCLE

Explanation: Players in the middle of the area receive serves from players on the outside, then strike/shoot them back 1-touch (ideally) to the server’s hands, then move on and receive a serve from a different player on the outside. Practice striking with both feet. Swap the players on the outside regularly.

Coaching tips: Make sure the area is big enough for realistic shooting distances for the skill level of your players.

Progression: Encourage servers to serve randomly and in varied ways e.g. bouncing, high, low, different sides of the receiving player’s body etc (and combining several of these ideas).

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SHOOTING GALLERY

Explanation: All players run with a ball in the central area while maintaining distance from other players, and have them in 2-3 different teams then randomly call out which team can take shots on goal every 30 seconds. Alternatively, players can dribble towards central goals so they can swap balls after shooting. Either way, they only score points if they all shoot into different goals and if their shots aren’t accidentally blocked by other players.

Coaching tips: Only one player can shoot into any of the goals at one time, so to avoid two players going for the same goal, encourage them to always be aware of all the different options available. Encourage players to communicate with each other.

Progression: Adjust goal size, distance and position. Challenge the players to shoot with their weaker foot (maybe award 2 points if they do so successfully).

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BOMBARD

Explanation: Players have a ball each and are in 2 teams on either side of the area. There is a target ball in the centre they need to try and hit with their own ball and move to the other team’s side to win (soccer marbles).

Coaching tips: Encourage the players to consider playing 1-touch passes when they think it’s possible.

Progression: Adjust the size of the area and maybe also have more than one target ball. Challenge the players to pass with their weaker foot (maybe award 2 points if they do so successfully).


PASSING COMBINATIONS

Explanation: 4-6 players stay 1.5m apart from each other and start off with one pair doing a 1-2 pass with each other then a longer pass to the opposite side. Players can also rotate positions within the area after each combination.

Coaching tips: Make sure the area is big enough for realistic passing distances for the skill level of your players. Encourage the players to come up with their own variations for the group to try (shape, sequence etc).

Progression: Adjust the size of the grid. Challenge the players to practice everything with their weaker foot.

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SHOOTING UNDER PRESSURE

Explanation: In pairs, one player passes to their partner to set up a shot on goal, then tries to block the shot from 1.5m away. Swap roles every time. Variations could include

  • Pass from the side (left/right)
  • Pass from the front (left/right)
  • Pass from behind (left/right)
  • 1-2 pass from the side (left/right)
  • 1-2 pass from the front (left/right)
  • 1-2 pass from behind (left/right)

Coaching tips: Change partners regularly. Highlight good examples of when to shoot 1-touch and when to shoot 2-touch based on the angle of the shot and where the defender is positioned.

Progression: Adjust the size of the goals and maybe also the distance the passer/defender starts from the attacker. Challenge the players to shoot with their weaker foot (maybe award 2 points if they do so successfully).

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PIGGY IN THE MIDDLE

Explanation: 4v1 or 4v2 in the area with all players at least 1.5m apart, including defenders, who are passive (they can only intercept passes, not tackle). Swap defender/s when they intercept a pass or force a mistake. Rules for the attacking players can be:

  • In 4v1, all attackers are limited to 1-touch only and try to work together to as a team to complete a certain number of passes in a row (e.g. 10)
  • In 4v2, the scoring method can be a split pass (between the defenders), but it only counts if it is done 1-touch and along the ground

Coaching tips: Players shouldn’t stay in the corners but adjust their position after every pass to get into good angles to provide their teammates with passing options (maybe they can actually be outside of the area),

Progression: Adjust the size of the area. Challenge the players to pass with their weaker foot (maybe award 2 points if they do so successfully).

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SPACE INVADERS

Explanation: Players in pairs on opposite sides of the area try to pass across to each other, scoring 1 point for every successful pass. Two defenders in the middle zone try to intercept and get to switch with another pair after 10 interceptions in total.

Coaching tips: Encourage the players to consider playing 1-touch passes when they think it’s possible.

Progression: Adjust the size of the area. Challenge the players to pass with their weaker foot (maybe award 2 points if they do so successfully).


3 TEAMS 3 ZONE GAME

Explanation: Players are in 3 teams in their own grids and also at least 1.5m apart from their teammates. The team in the middle is defending, while the other two teams try to pass across the middle zone (along the ground only) to each other to score points. If a pass is intercepted or the ball goes out, the attacking team that lost the ball becomes the new defending team (or maybe rotate teams after they complete 3 interceptions).

Coaching tips: Normally one or more defenders can press and tackle the ball, but in this version their challenge is to only block and intercept passes from within their zone. Encourage the attacking players to consider playing 1-touch passes when they think it’s possible.

Progression: Adjust the size of the zones. Challenge the players to pass with their weaker foot (maybe award 2 points if they do so successfully).

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BEAT THE CONES 1 v 1

Explanation: All players run with a ball in the area while maintaining distance from other players, and practice 1 v 1 moves against different cones placed randomly at least 1.5m apart.

Coaching tips: Only one player can dribble around one cone at a time, so to avoid two players going towards the same cone, encourage them to always be aware of all the different options available.

Progression: Challenge the players to practice everything with their weaker foot. Make it a competition for which player can come up the best 1 v 1 move.

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ME AND MY SHADOW/MIRROR

Explanation: All players run with a ball in pairs in the area while maintaining distance from other players, including their partner, or they can be separated. One is the leader and practices 1 v 1 moves, while their partner tries to copy them exactly like a shadow would. Swap the leader regularly.

Coaching tips: Change partners regularly. Highlight good examples of 1 v 1 moves.

Progression: Challenge the players to practice everything with their weaker foot. Maybe make the second player a mirror instead of a shadow so they need to copy everything facing their partner.

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