⚽ Pre-Season
SSG Ladder
By week 4 of pre-season, players have their fitness back and their basic technique reactivated.
SSG Ladder — full pitch view
The one cue that matters
Quality maintained as the workload builds
◆Why this drill works
By week 4 of pre-season, players have their fitness back and their basic technique reactivated. The block is now about match-realistic intensity. The SSG Ladder layers three 4v4 games with progressive constraints — the first builds possession habits, the second adds transition demand, the third introduces full-pressure 1v1 within a team context. Each game runs 6 minutes with 2-minute resets. By the end, players are doing genuine match-pace work without realising it.
▦The drill in three phases
1Setup
Starting positions — players, zones and equipment in place.
2Action
Movement begins — players run, dribble and create the pattern.
3Finish
The end action — pass, shot or outcome the drill builds toward.
Ball carrierAttackersDefendersPass / dribbleShot
▶How to run it
- Mark out a 25×16 yard pitch with mini-goals at each end. Split the squad into two teams of 4 (use bibs). Extra players queue at halfway line — rotation every 6-minute game.
- GAME 1 — Possession-led (6 min). 4v4. To score, a team must complete 5 consecutive passes before shooting. Builds the habit of building attacks rather than going long. No constraint on the defence.
- Reset 2 minutes. Drink, swap players in, refresh ideas. Coach calls out one observation from Game 1 — what worked, what didn't.
- GAME 2 — Transition demand (6 min). 4v4 with one rule: any team winning the ball must score within 8 seconds or possession turns over. Forces fast transitions and direct attacks. Defenders work to delay.
- Reset 2 minutes. Then GAME 3 — 1v1 within team (6 min). 4v4 but each player is paired with a specific opposition player they must mark whenever the ball is in their area. Brings genuine 1v1 demand into a team context.
- End on a 'free game' — last 1 minute, no constraints, just play. Always end on a positive note. Players leave wanting to come back.
✦Coaching points
Praise when you see
- Quality maintained as the workload builds
- Building intensity progressively, not going flat out too early
Correct when you see
- Neglecting recovery between sessions
- Going too hard too early — pre-season builds progressively
★Kit for this drill — top picks compared
| Pick | Product | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top pick | Agility Ladder | Build the base. | Check price → |
| Value | Marker Cones (50-pack) | Conditioning circuits. | Check price → |
| Upgrade | Training Footballs (6-pack) | Technical work. | Check price → |
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?Frequently asked questions
What age group is SSG Ladder suitable for?
This drill suits youth. Build the intensity progressively and scale the workload to the group.
How many players do I need for SSG Ladder?
This drill works well with around 10 players. With fewer, reduce the groups or rotate players through; with more, set up multiple stations so everyone stays active rather than queuing.
How long does SSG Ladder take?
Allow around 3 minutes to set up and 15 minutes to run it — about 18 minutes in total. It fits well as the technical or main block of a session, leaving time for a warm-up and a game.