All age groups
Indoor winter plan · Ages 16+

16+ indoor training plan

Eight weeks, two sessions a week. Each session is a practice, a progression and a game, with practices from UEFA Pro Licence tutor Martin Hunter, Mike Phelan and David Moyes.

Older players need sessions that look and feel like the game at match tempo. This plan covers creating space, passing and support, pressing, movement, creativity, delay, penetration and finishing, with practices from Martin Hunter, Mike Phelan and David Moyes. Small areas make the work intense, so manage the load: keep work bouts short, give proper recovery between practices, and watch for sore legs from hard floors over the winter.

Attacking

Week 1: Creating space

Session 1

Develop your players’ ability to create space in possession.

Practice

Create Space – 2v2+2 Skill Practice

Martin Hunter shows how players can work in pairs to create space and play forward where possible.

15 min · Built for 16, scale down for fewer · 18×15 (×2), 18×30 total

Kit: 16 balls · 9 cones

Open practice on TCM
Progress

Create Space – 3v3+4 Skill Practice

A possession practice where players create space as individuals and as a group to penetrate.

15 min · 8+ players · 20×20

Kit: 13 balls · 8 cones · 10 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Play

4 Goal Game

Test the techniques and skills your players have worked on through the session.

15 min · 8+ players · 30×20

Kit: 9 balls · 4 cones · 8 bibs

Open practice on TCM

Session 2

Develop your players’ ability to create space in possession.

Practice

Creating Space Technical Practice

Create space by dribbling, passing and moving. Get heads up and check where the space is.

15 min · 8+ players · 15×15

Kit: 5 balls · 4 cones · 8 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Progress

Create Space – 5v5+4 Skill Practice

Players create space for themselves and their teammates to exploit the opposition.

15 min · 8+ players · 18×15 (×2), 18×30 total

Kit: 13 balls · 10 cones · 14 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Play

4 Goal Game

Test the techniques and skills your players have worked on through the session.

15 min · 8+ players · 30×20

Kit: 9 balls · 4 cones · 8 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Attacking

Week 2: Passing and support

Session 1

Support play in tight spaces.

Practice

Passing and Support – 4v2 Rondo

UEFA Pro Licence tutor Martin Hunter coaches passing and support in a rondo.

15 min · 8+ players · 10×10 (25×10)

Kit: 16 balls · 8 cones · 12 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Progress

6v4 Possession Practice

Mike Phelan on keeping the ball under pressure while keeping length, width and depth.

15 min · Built for 20, scale down for fewer · 30×15 per area

Kit: 10 balls · 16 cones · 8 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Play

4-Goal Game

Mike Phelan on creating space and moving the ball quickly while keeping possession.

15 min · 8+ players · 30×15 per area

Kit: 10 balls · 12 cones · 7 bibs

Open practice on TCM

Session 2

Combination play in tight areas.

Practice

Combination Play Technical Practice

Recognise when and how to use movement to lose a defender, find space to receive and combine in the middle to keep the ball.

15 min · 8+ players · 25×25

Kit: 6 balls · 8 cones

Open practice on TCM
Progress

Support Play Skill Practice

Create angles to receive, supporting around and ahead of the ball, to give better passing options.

15 min · 8+ players · 25×25

Kit: 4 balls · 14 cones · 9 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Play

Support Play Small-Sided Game

Decide when to support behind and when in front, while keeping possession.

15 min · 8+ players · 30×20

Kit: 1 ball · 14 cones · 9 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Defending

Week 3: Pressing

Session 1

Press to win the ball back higher up the pitch.

Practice

Pressing and Support – 2v1 Skill Practice

UEFA Pro Licence tutor Martin Hunter on intercepting, pressing and getting in line with the ball.

15 min · 8+ players · 20×10 (3 areas)

Kit: 20 balls · 18 cones · 12 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Progress

Pressing and Support – 3v3 Wave Game

A high-tempo wave game: travel quickly, stop attackers moving forward and get in position to win the ball.

10 min · 8+ players · 44×18

Kit: 13 balls · 26 cones · 12 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Play

4 Goal Game

Test the techniques and skills your players have worked on through the session.

15 min · 8+ players · 30×20

Kit: 9 balls · 4 cones · 8 bibs

Open practice on TCM

Session 2

Press to win the ball back higher up the pitch.

Practice

Pressing Masterclass: 1v1 Warm-Up

David Moyes: press the ball quickly, with a controlled approach.

15 min · 8+ players · 16×8

Kit: 10 balls · 6 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Progress

Pressing Skill Practice

Aggressive pressing to win the ball back or stop the opposition playing forward.

15 min · Built for 18, scale down for fewer · 30×15

Kit: 10 balls · 12 cones · 18 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Play

4 Goal Game

Test the techniques and skills your players have worked on through the session.

15 min · 8+ players · 30×20

Kit: 9 balls · 4 cones · 8 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Attacking

Week 4: Movement and mobility

Session 1

Develop your players’ movement off the ball.

Practice

Creating Space with Movement Technical Practice

How, where and when to create space to receive and pass, under partial and then full pressure.

15 min · 8+ players · 20×20

Kit: 6 balls · 6 cones

Open practice on TCM
Progress

3v3 Attacking to Goal Skill Practice

Combine, play into space or to feet, use creative movement and look to score.

15 min · 8+ players · 25×30

Kit: 4 balls · 20 cones · 14 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Play

Creating Space Small-Sided Game

Create space for yourself and others, decide whether to dribble or pass, and break down the defending team.

20 min · 8+ players · 30×20

Kit: 6 balls · 12 cones · 8 bibs

Open practice on TCM

Session 2

The key detail within the movement.

Practice

Combination Play Technical Practice

Recognise when and how to use movement to lose a defender, find space to receive and combine in the middle to keep the ball.

15 min · 8+ players · 25×25

Kit: 6 balls · 8 cones

Open practice on TCM
Progress

Creating Space with Movement Skill Practice

Creative movement off the ball to receive, and on the ball to draw defenders in and unbalance the opposition.

15 min · 8+ players · 30×20

Kit: 4 balls · 24 cones · 8 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Play

Forward Movements to Finish Small-Sided Game

Decisions in tight areas, and when and how to break defensive lines to finish.

20 min · 8+ players · 30×22

Kit: 6 balls · 16 cones · 10 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Attacking

Week 5: Creativity

Session 1

Be more creative in tight spaces.

Practice

Create Space – 5v5+4 Skill Practice

Players create space for themselves and their teammates to exploit the opposition.

15 min · 8+ players · 18×15 (×2), 18×30 total

Kit: 13 balls · 10 cones · 14 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Progress

Combinations to Create Chances to Shoot

Play quickly around the edge of the box to create shooting chances. A good time to build confidence on the weaker foot.

20 min · 8+ players · 44×30

Kit: 10 balls · 10 cones · 7 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Play

3 Goal Small-Sided Game

When and how to shoot quickly, create angles to finish and be clinical.

20 min · 8+ players · 15×15

Kit: 10 balls · 3 cones · 10 bibs

Open practice on TCM

Session 2

Be creative under pressure.

Practice

3v3 Attacking to Goal Skill Practice

Combine, play into space or to feet, use creative movement and look to score.

15 min · 8+ players · 25×30

Kit: 4 balls · 20 cones · 14 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Progress

Create Space – 2v2+2 Skill Practice

Martin Hunter shows how players can work in pairs to create space and play forward where possible.

15 min · Built for 16, scale down for fewer · 18×15 (×2), 18×30 total

Kit: 16 balls · 9 cones

Open practice on TCM
Play

Combining and Playing Forwards Small-Sided Game

Quick combinations to unbalance the defence and create chances.

20 min · 8+ players · 30×25

Kit: 6 balls · 18 cones · 12 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Defending

Week 6: Delay

Session 1

Recovery and delay.

Practice

Recovery and Delay – 2v1 Skill Practice

Martin Hunter on defending when you cannot press the ball straight away: recover and delay.

10 min · 8+ players · 20×30 (3 × 20×10 areas)

Kit: 12 balls · 9 cones · 3 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Progress

Recovery and Delay – 4v2 Skill Practice

Martin Hunter, UEFA Pro Licence tutor, on preventing forward passes.

10 min · 8+ players · 20×20 plus a 20×10 area

Kit: 12 balls · 12 cones · 3 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Play

Defending Outnumbered Small-Sided Game

A 3v3+1 game that sharpens decision-making and lets defenders defend in a game situation.

20 min · 8+ players · 25×20

Kit: 1 ball · 10 cones · 4 bibs

Open practice on TCM

Session 2

Recovery over short distances.

Practice

Recovery and Delay – 4v2 Skill Practice

Martin Hunter, UEFA Pro Licence tutor, on preventing forward passes.

10 min · 8+ players · 20×20 plus a 20×10 area

Kit: 12 balls · 12 cones · 3 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Progress

Recovery and Delay – 6v3 Skill Practice

UEFA Pro Licence tutor Martin Hunter on recovery and delay.

10 min · 8+ players · 20×30

Kit: 12 balls · 12 cones · 3 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Play

Defending Outnumbered Small-Sided Game

A 3v3+1 game that sharpens decision-making and lets defenders defend in a game situation.

20 min · 8+ players · 25×20

Kit: 1 ball · 10 cones · 4 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Attacking

Week 7: Penetration

Session 1

Penetrating play.

Practice

Overloading Areas to Play Forward

When and how to overload wide and central areas to find forward passes.

15 min · 8+ players · 28×15

Kit: 1 ball · 16 cones · 11 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Progress

Breaking Lines and Movement Skill Practice

Break lines vertically and diagonally, with creative movement and finding the spare player.

12 min · Built for 18, scale down for fewer · 21×20

Kit: 1 ball · 12 cones · 18 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Play

4 Goal Game

Test the techniques and skills your players have worked on through the session.

15 min · 8+ players · 30×20

Kit: 9 balls · 4 cones · 8 bibs

Open practice on TCM

Session 2

More forward actions in games.

Practice

Italian Square Skill Practice

Scales from 1v1 up to 10v10 in the middle. Principles of play, passing and receiving to play forward.

15 min · 8+ players · 20×20

Kit: 12 balls · 8 cones · 10 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Progress

Breaking Lines Skill Practice

Break lines vertically and diagonally while working on movement and finding spare players.

12 min · Built for 18, scale down for fewer · 24×30

Kit: 1 ball · 12 cones · 18 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Play

4 Goal Game

Test the techniques and skills your players have worked on through the session.

15 min · 8+ players · 30×20

Kit: 9 balls · 4 cones · 8 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Attacking

Week 8: Finishing

Session 1

Develop your players’ finishing.

Practice

Combination to Finish Technical Practice

Mike Phelan coaches players to move as individuals to create space and combine quickly to shoot.

10 min · 8+ players · 40×25

Kit: 10 balls · 10 cones · 7 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Progress

Combination to Finish – Progression 1

Mike Phelan builds on the practice: move to create space, combine quickly, finish.

15 min · 8+ players · 40×25

Kit: 10 balls · 10 cones · 7 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Play

Combination Play to Goal Small-Sided Game

Combine with quick passing, receive to feet or into space, then play into the striker or dribble and score.

20 min · 8+ players · 40×25

Kit: 6 balls · 14 cones · 11 bibs

Open practice on TCM

Session 2

Develop your players’ finishing.

Practice

Combination to Finish Technical Practice

Mike Phelan coaches players to move as individuals to create space and combine quickly to shoot.

10 min · 8+ players · 40×25

Kit: 10 balls · 10 cones · 7 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Progress

Combination to Finish – Progression 1

Mike Phelan builds on the practice: move to create space, combine quickly, finish.

15 min · 8+ players · 40×25

Kit: 10 balls · 10 cones · 7 bibs

Open practice on TCM
Play

Combination Play to Goal Small-Sided Game

Combine with quick passing, receive to feet or into space, then play into the striker or dribble and score.

20 min · 8+ players · 40×25

Kit: 6 balls · 14 cones · 11 bibs

Open practice on TCM

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