Test your players' technique with this circuit

By Michael Beale

This is a good warm-up for your training sessions - a circuit that tests your players' basic technique. It's a really good circuit because it involves everyone, moves quickly and it's great fun.

You're testing the basic skills of your players. Namely passing and receiving, headers, one-twos, dribbling, controlling and shooting. You can write down which players can do which technique and the ones they need to work on.

• Arrange your players and two goalkeepers around the four stations in a 30-yard square as shown in the picture above.
• Mark out a five-yard square in the centre of the area.
• The first player at each station must come out to the middle square.
• Players must complete a technique exercise and then go out to become a server.
• The serving player must jog into the middle square and then out to complete a technique before becoming a server again.

The stations and techniques to perform:

1. Receive a pass and then pass first time into one of the mini goals.
2. Receive a thrown pass for a header at goal.
3. Receive a pass and make a one-two with you or a helper and then dribble out.
4. Receive an aerial pass to control and shoot at goal.

Players must complete a different exercise each time they enter the area. The practice is repeated for a set time period.

Progression

Any of the techniques can be replaced with different exercises that you feel is appropriate to the warm-up. The examples above are to encourage quick play and improved finishing skills.