Level 2

Level 2 certificate is still regarded as an entry level certificate allowing the new coach to investigate new sessions.  Recently the FA change the style of the level 2 certificate. I passed mine on what I term the ‘old’ level 2, in this the small sided games (SSG) were 6 aside in the new level 2 the FA has moved to 4 aside SSG. The practices for functional level 2 and 6 aside SSG are shown below

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Functional Practices

Functional practices can be both unopposed, i.e. working on the technique of the players or opposed, in which the technique is putt into practice as a skill. From here once the technique and skill are understood the players can be taken onto a small sided game.

The goalkeeper functional drills are to be found in the goalkeeper section of this website.

Title	Description	PDF
Dribbling	Unopposed dribbling drill	PDF
Dribbling 2v2	Dribbling 2v2 - opposed	PDF
Dribbling under pressure	Dribbling 1v1 - opposed	PDF
Attacking Headers	Attacking Header - unopposed	PDF
Defending Headers	Defending Headers - unopposed with opposed advancement	PDF
Driven long Pass	Unopposed long pass	PDF
Served long pass	Unopposed long swerved pass	PDF
Long passing and support	4v4 game to encourage long passing	PDF
Running with the ball	unopposed running with the ball	PDF
Shooting	Basic unopposed shooting drill	PDF
Shooting first time	Quick shooting drill working on striking the ball.	PDF
Running and shooting	Combing the basic shooting with running - simulating a 1v1 with the goalkeeper	PDF
Short Passing	Basic short passing technique unopposed	PDF
Short passing 3v1	Skill based short passing drill (opposed)	PDF
Short Passing 4v2	opposed passing drill with more pressure on the decision	PDF
Short Passing and Support	Angles of support and how to make them - unopposed	PDF

Small Sided Games (6-aside)

Small sided games (6v6) are coached on 60x40 yard pitch with 2 goals. The general formation is Gk, 2 defenders, 1 midfielder and 2 strikers. This formation can be changed. The start position is to get directly to your topic, which should enable you to coach your topic and give players roles and basic understanding. Once you’ve got the start position you should allow the players to have some ‘free play’ before stopping the game to coach. At all time only coach one team, choose the team you wish to work with and stick with that team.

It is important to remember to coach the 3 points in all small sided games:

• The player on the ball - what can they improve
• Players off the ball - players that are close to the ball and can have a direct influence iit maybe with a dynamic run or angles of support.
• Players around the ball - those players away from the play that may support the play - an obvious position which can get forgotten is the goalkeeper who is able to observe all the play.

Linked Sessions

Linking sessions is a nice way to have 4 weeks on a specific topic. For example 4 weeks on passing, from the above drills we could use :

1. Short Passing - technical
2. Short Passing and Support - technical
3. Short Passing 4v2 - technical
4. Passing and Support - small sided game

The combination of drills and games is at the coaches discretion but it gives you an idea of how sessions can be built up together to form an overall picture.

More information on the coaching modules can be found here

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