Session plan
Ball Mastery + Defensive Positioning
Improve ball striking technique and highlight how to defend the sidelines
Created by Neil Bellamy
The FA Four Corner Model · session focus
Session shape, scaled to 61 minutes. Roughly 70% of the time should be ball-rolling.
Set the next practice up while the current one is running (a second coach is a big help), and keep your demos short so the players are on the ball as much as possible.
An attacker receives, takes on a defender and finishes, while the defender learns to jockey and win the ball. Builds both attacking and defending 1v1.
A combination that breaks the last line and finishes on goal, a staple of Pep Guardiola's Man City sessions. Played into the striker's feet, set first time, then slid in behind for the player who started the move, arriving on a third-man run.
A defence-versus-attack transition game (adapted from Soccer Drive). Three attackers try to break down three defenders and score; the coach feeds the ball in to start and joins the attack, so it plays 4v3. Win it back and the defenders play out to the coach, then counter.
A small-sided game to finish the session: a proper match, two teams to small goals, no goalkeepers. 5v5 is a good default, but scale it to your numbers. The smaller the sides, the more every player is on the ball.
Our digital matchday programme for the game against Rayners Lane on Saturday 24th October 2026 is now available. View the programme.
PENN & Tylers Green produced a commanding first-half performance away at Northwood on Tuesday evening, as Matty Ayres struck twice and captain Jamie Essex also found the net.
