Team building exercises such as relay races, small-sided games and motivational talks are also often used in professional football training programs. Many top teams and renowned coaches introduce similar exercises to promote team cohesion, improve communication and motivate players.

Teams doing similar training exercises during practice: FC Barcelona, Manchester City, Liverpool, Bayern München

• Strengthening team cohesion
• Improving communication
• Inspiring the players
• Working together towards a common goal

Equipment required:

• Buoy
• Jerseys
• footballs
• Stopwatch or timer
• Whiteboard and markers

Duration: 70 minutes

Dynamic stretching and light jogging: Start with a warm-up that includes dynamic stretching exercises (high knees, butt kicks, leg swings) and light jogging across the field to stimulate blood flow.

Focus points:Make sure all players are engaged and participating.
Correct any incorrect stretching techniques.
Monitor the intensity to ensure it increases gradually.

Passing and moving: Have players paired up to pass the ball back and forth while jogging slowly. This promotes communication and coordination.

Focus points:Ensure clear communication between pairs.
Pay attention to accurate passing and receiving techniques.
Provide feedback on body positioning and movement.

Communication TIPS:

• “Okay, let’s start with dynamic stretching. 30 seconds of high knees, go!”
• “Great job! Now switch to butt kicks for 30 seconds. Remember to keep communicating with your teammate!”

Goal:

To improve player communication, quick passing and positioning and to promote team cohesion.

Preparation:

Divide the players into small teams of 4-5 players each.Set up a relay track 20-25 meters long.
Place the buoys in a straight line about 4-5 meters apart in the middle of the course.Mark the start and end points as well as the turning point.

Course of the relay race:

The first player starts with the ball and dribbles between the center buoys.
At the turning point, the player goes around the buoy and then back to the starting point.
There, he passes the ball to his next teammate, who completes the same route.
Teams continue until all players have completed their relay. Emphasize communication and teamwork, as they will need to encourage each other as the task progresses. Encourage players to cheer on their teammates and maintain high energy levels. Observe individual and team performance and provide immediate feedback.

Focus points:

Make sure all players understand the rules and objectives.
Demonstrate proper dribbling technique through the cones.
Look for proper dribbling technique and ball control.
Be sure to provide verbal encouragement and communication between teammates.
Monitor the overall pace and energy of the activity.

Communication TIPS:

“Remember, it’s about teamwork and communication. “Encourage each other and keep the energy up!”
“First player (name), get ready. On my whistle, start dribbling through the cones.”
“Good dribbling! Hold on to the cones!”
“Great job! Here, take the ball and go!”
“Come on, you can do it! Keep going!”

Goal:

Developing players’ dribbling skills, speed and teamwork as well as promoting communication and cooperation.

Preparation:

3v3 or 4v4 games:
A 20×30 meter area is ideal for a 3v3 game, but the size can be adjusted depending on the age and ability of the players.
Place a small goal at each end of the field. If there are no small goals, mark 2-3 meter wide goals with two buoys.
Organise small team games on the divided sections of the field.
Swap teams every 5 minutes to ensure that everyone plays against a different opponent.
Encourage quick passing, movement away from the ball and constant communication.

Procedure of the small-field game:

The game starts in the middle. One team takes a kickoff and the goal is to attack and score as quickly as possible. Play 5-10 minute games and then switch teams so each player can play against different opponents.

Focus points:

Pay attention to whether players are communicating with each other on a regular basis. Encourage them to call each other by name and to constantly communicate their intentions.

Quick passes and movement:

Emphasises the importance of quick passing and movement without the ball. Encourage players to always be on the move and look for open spaces.

Positioning and location:

Check that players are positioned correctly on the pitch. Encourage them to hold their position but be flexible and adapt to game situations.

Return to defense:

Emphasize a quick return to defense when the team loses the ball. Encourage players to close the area and prevent quick attacks from the opponent.

Communication TIPS:
At the end of the game, gather the players together and discuss the experience. Ask what worked well and what could be improved. Highlight positive performances and moments where teamwork and communication worked well. Discuss how to apply what was learned in the next games and training sessions.

“Okay, split into 3-on-3 teams. Focus on quick passes and constant movement.”
“Keep communicating, demanding the ball and looking for space.”
“We’ll switch teams after 5 minutes, so be ready!”
“Nice goal! Keep up the pressure!”

Light jogging followed by static stretching to relax the muscles and prevent injuries.

Communication TIPS:

“Great effort, everyone. Let’s cool down with some jogging.”
“Now move into a circle for static stretches. Hold each stretch for 20 seconds.”

Preparation:

Gather the players around the whiteboard.
Discuss what they learned about teamwork and communication during the exercises.
Highlight positive examples you observed during the activities.
Motivate them by linking the game situations to the meaning of the unit.

Visual aids: Use the whiteboard to draw key moments or strategies discussed.
Player leadership: Occasionally have a player lead the reflection session to encourage leadership within the team.
Consistent routine: Make reflection a regular part of your training sessions to develop a habit of continuous improvement.
Finally, finish by setting short-term and long-term goals based on the reflection.

Process of the reflection session:

Assemble the team: Have all players sit or stand in a circle around the whiteboard or designated area to encourage open discussion.
Open with positive feedback: Start with general positive observations to set a constructive tone.
Encourage players’ input: Ask open-ended questions to get players talking about their experiences.
Highlight key moments: Discuss specific examples that demonstrated teamwork, communication, or areas for improvement.

Communication TIPS:

“Great job today, everyone. I saw a lot of effort and teamwork out there. Let’s talk about what we experienced and learned.”
“I noticed great communication during the relay races. You all encouraged each other a lot.”
“There were some impressive passes and moves during the small team games. Well done!”

Open questions:

“What did you enjoy most about today’s session?”

“Was there a moment when you felt particularly connected to a teammate? What happened?”

“Which part of the training was the most challenging for you and why?”

Specific cases:

“During the relay race, I saw [Player A] encouraging [Player B] through the cones. How did that support help you?”
“In the small team games, [Player C] made some great passes. Can you tell us what you focused on?”

Lessons learned:

“What did we learn from today’s exercise about the importance of communication?”

“How did working together help us achieve our relay goals?”

“What can we do to improve our teamwork even further?”

Address areas for improvement:

“Have there been moments when our communication has broken down? How can we avoid that in the future?”

“Has anyone felt unsure of their role at any point? Let’s clarify those roles.”

Player input and suggestions:

“Does anyone have any suggestions on how we can make our practices more effective?”

“What other exercises would you like to see in future training sessions?”

Set goals:

“Based on today’s session, let’s set a goal to improve our passing accuracy. How can we do that?”

“Our next game is coming up. What teamwork strategies from today can we apply in the game?”

Coach’s closing remarks:

“I’m proud of the progress we made today. Let’s keep this momentum going.”
“Remember, every practice is a step towards becoming a better team. Continue to support each other and work hard.”

Motivational Quotes:

“As we learned today, ‘Individually we are a drop. Together we are an ocean.’ Keep this in mind as we move forward.”

Inspirational speech:
End the session with an encouraging speech. Emphasize the power of unity and how working together as a team can help you overcome any challenge.
Share a motivational quote, such as: “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan.

“You all did a great job today. Remember, it’s teamwork and communication that makes us strong.”
“If we work together, we can overcome any challenge. Keep that spirit in every game we play.”
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships. Go ahead and let’s win together!”