course modules
stamina training
The Game within the Game

This is a 7 versus 7 game situation, but on the coaches prolonged whistle the player on the ball kills the ball dead, and every player has to sprint to the
designated coloured line before sprinting back into the game situation.

The coach can vary his command and increase or decrease the intensity of the drill according to the attitude and commitment of each and every player.

  1. Sprint to a yellow line.
  2. Sprint to a blue line, turn and walk backwards to red line.
  3. Walk to red line, sit down on a yellow line, and sprint back to the game.
  4. Sprint to a red line turn and then sprint to a different red line backwards.
  5. Sideways to a yellow line, backwards to a different yellow line, sprint to a different red line.

In place of coloured lines field marking can be used such as the arc, edge of the penalty area, end-line, side-line or corner flag etc.

This drill is only limited to the coaches imagination, and is an excellent indicator of team movement as well as individual movement. The coach can see very clearly, individual and collective effort, and more importantly each player is aware that he is responsible not only for his performance, but also the teams. If the same player or players are habitually last in getting back into the “match”, then their team is always going to be at a disadvantage because of being a man or men short.

This then becomes a problem that the players own team mates can easily identify, and peer pressure is much more powerful as a stimulator than any coach.

The dimensions of the pitch, of the outside lines, and the number of players are totally flexible.

Outside objects, such as hurdles, slalom courses, etc. can be located around the outside zone, and if the coach requires be introduced to the workload. Even different outside zones can be set up, at differing distances, either coloured or numbered as to the coaches imagination.

The goalkeepers are not usually involved in the outside zone work, they remain in place.

This is the ultimate soccer specific stamina training drill.