20 PRE-SEASON PRACTICES: BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR A SUCCESSFUL SEASON

Introduction: The Pivotal Pre-Season Period

The pre-season period is the most crucial time of the year for any football team. It is a unique window of opportunity—a blank slate upon which the physical, tactical, and psychological foundations for the entire campaign are built. Far more than just regaining fitness, a modern pre-season is a holistic process designed to forge team spirit, embed a clear playing philosophy, and prepare players for the intense demands of competitive football. This article outlines a strategic approach to designing these critical weeks, offering a blueprint for 20 practices that will transform your squad from a group of individuals into a cohesive, match-ready unit.

For a comprehensive overview of structuring a full coaching program, the UEFA B License Coaching Manual PDF is an indispensable resource.

The Three Pillars of an Effective Pre-Season

A successful pre-season rests on three interdependent pillars: Physical Conditioning, Tactical Implementation, and Psychological Buildup. Consequently, every training session should be designed to address at least two of these pillars simultaneously.

Pillar 1: Building the Engine – Physical Conditioning

The primary objective is to safely build a robust aerobic base, increase strength, and prevent injuries. This goes beyond endless running; it’s about football-specific fitness.

• Practice Focus: Incorporate high-intensity small-sided games (SSGs), possession drills with conditioned rules (e.g., mandatory pressing triggers), and position-specific interval running.
• Key Resource: Utilizing Warm-Up Exercises with Ball PDF routines at the start of every session ensures players are physically warmed up and technically engaged from the first minute.

Pillar 2: Installing the Software – Tactical Implementation

This is where you translate your game model from theory to practice. The pre-season is your chance to drill your principles of play into every player.

• Practice Focus: Use phase-of-play exercises to work on defensive shape, attacking patterns, and set-pieces. Gradually progress from unopposed walk-throughs to fully opposed scenarios.
• Key Resource: To design sessions that effectively teach your system, whether it’s a 4-3-3 or a 3-5-2, the UEFA A Coaching Session Plans and Essential 3-5-2 and 3-4-3 Training Exercises PDF offer expert guidance.

Pillar 3: Forging the Spirit – Psychological Buildup

Team cohesion and mental resilience are built on the training ground. Pre-season is the time to establish a strong team culture and collective mindset.

• Practice Focus: Include competitive drills with small rewards, team-building activities within sessions, and clear communication of roles and expectations.
• Key Resource: Understanding the intense demands of the modern game, as outlined in resources like the UEFA Pro License Course PDF, highlights the importance of mental preparation.

A Blueprint for 20 Pre-Season Practices

Rather than 20 isolated drills, consider a progressive 4-week plan comprising 20 integrated sessions. Each week has a specific focus, building upon the last.

Week 1: Foundation & Activation

• Focus: Re-acclimatization, basic aerobic fitness, and reintroduction of core technical skills.
• Sample Practices (1-5):
  1. Technical Circuit: High-repetition passing, receiving, and finishing drills in a circuit format.
  2. Possession Rondos: Regaining touch and sharpness in tight spaces using exercises from 60 Training Games PDF.
  3. Low-Intensity SSGs: Small-sided games on large pitches to encourage movement and passing.
  4. Principles Introduction: A classroom or on-pitch session introducing your core Principles of Play: Attacking PDF and defensive principles.
  5. Recovery Session: Light pool/ gym work and team meeting.

Week 2: Intensity & Integration

• Focus: Introducing high-intensity intervals, beginning tactical work, and increasing load.
• Sample Practices (6-10):
  6. Pressured Possession: 4v4+3 possession games with pressing triggers to combine fitness and tactical understanding.
  7. Defensive Shape Drills: Unopposed and then opposed work on your team’s defensive block and pressing coordination.
  8. Crossing & Finishing: High-volume drills focusing on service from wide areas and attacking the ball.
  9. Friendly Match (60 mins): An internal or external match to test fitness and apply learnings.
  10. Video Analysis Session: Reviewing match footage to reinforce coaching points.

Week 3: Tactical Depth & Match Preparation

• Focus: Deepening tactical understanding, set-piece mastery, and achieving peak match fitness.
• Sample Practices (11-15):
  11. Phase of Play: Intensive drills focused on building out from the back against a high press.
  12. Attacking Patterns: Rehearsing specific plays through the midfield and into the forwards.
  13. Set-Piece Workshop: Dedicated time for attacking and defensive corners/free-kicks.
  14. High-Intensity SSGs: Conditioned games that replicate the physical demands of a match.
  15. Friendly Match (75 mins): A more challenging fixture to assess progress.

Week 4: Sharpening & Final Preparation

• Focus: Fine-tuning, maximizing sharpness, and finalizing the starting XI for the first match.
• Sample Practices (16-20):
  16. Short, Sharp Possession: High-tempo, small-area games to improve quick decision-making.
  17. 11v11 Scenario Training: Implementing game plans for specific match situations (e.g., winning/losing with 10 mins left).
  18. Final Tactical Run-Through: A full-paced training match focusing on tactical discipline.
  19. Active Recovery & Visualization: Light session and mental preparation.
  20. Final Team Talk & Preparation: Finalizing details for the opening game.

For a full season’s worth of structured ideas, resources like The Training Plan and Soccer Training Programs are invaluable for any coach.

Conclusion: From Practice to Performance

In conclusion, a world-class pre-season is a meticulously planned and executed project. It is a demanding yet rewarding period that sets the tone for everything that follows. The 20 practices outlined are not just a countdown to the first match; they are 20 opportunities to instill confidence, embed a winning style of play, and build the unbreakable team spirit required to overcome the challenges of a long season.

The work of elite academies, such as those detailed in the Leicester City Football Club Academy PDF, shows that this holistic approach is used at the highest levels. To further your own coaching education, consider pursuing qualifications like the AFC B Diploma Coaching Course Certificate PDF or delving into the UEFA A Licence: The Complete Coach’s Guide PDF.

For ongoing inspiration, follow the pre-season insights of top clubs on @OptaAnalyst and read in-depth analyses on The Athletic. Remember, the investment you make in these 20 practices—your energy, your planning, and your philosophy—will be repaid tenfold when your team steps onto the pitch for that first competitive match, fully prepared, united, and ready to win.