Simplicity. I remember my first visit to a professional European academy, PSV Eindhoven, in Holland, about 20 years ago. I had with me 2 pads of paper and several pens for fear that one would not work and I would miss something. This is when I had my first major revelation when observing training at this level. The revelation was how simple, yet effective, the training was at the professional level. This clip from Celtic is a perfect example. If you have trained with YPT you already understand that ‘it’s the little things’ that matter. This looks like a basic passing and receiving but if you watch closely you might notice there is a little more to it. Normally, this would be categorized as a ‘passing and receiving’ exercise but, to me, this is a ‘receiving and passing’ exercise because what I really like about this exercise is not so much the technical passing and receiving part but, more, the movement off the ball. Watch closely and you will see that once the player receives the ball, and passes back, he checks away at one speed (slower) but then checks back TO the ball a bit quicker, as it should be done. In a game situation, when you don’t have the ball, you want to move in a way that makes your marker (defender) think that you don’t want the ball but then in a sharp movement you check quickly to the ball to give yourself maximum time and space to make your next decision. If you like this video please like and subscribe. I have been fortunate to visit some of Europe's best academies and I want to pass on as much of what I have seen as I can. I hope some of it can help you and your team. I try to add videos from European academies every day so please like, subscribe and hit that bell so you will know when new videos go up. Please take advantage of my instagram account (@YPT_usa) where you will find 1-minute edits of the videos separated by training topics and age groups in the highlights section that you can use for quick reference for ideas for your sessions. Even more content on my website: www.YPTusa.com and social media @YPTusa: Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | Snapchat | LinkedIn. Instagram: YPT_usa. If I can be of any assistance to you, your team or organization please do not hesitate to let me know: John@YPTusa.com. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY6qJ_Lv5J0

Another simple, yet effective, passing and receiving exercise from Atletico’s academy. This was done before their UEFA Youth League match vs Genk, from Belgium. As always, take note of the finer points here. First, when receiving, notice that the players are not simply controlling/stopping the ball but preparing it in the direction of the next pass. The players are preparing the ball to the opposite side of the cone or pole at which they received it. Its intentional and its clean. Note how the players run directly to the pole before moving quickly away from it to receive the ball, as if checking away from a defender. As for the passing, notice that all passes are being played to the right foot. The players at the cones are receiving and passing with only the right foot. The players at the poles are receiving with the right but are passing with the left. It is a ‘surface specific’ exercise. After a certain amount of time, the exercise would go in the opposite direction with all passes being played to the left food. Also note the intensity and tempo of this exercise. If you like this video please like and subscribe. I have been fortunate to visit some of Europe's best academies and I want to pass on as much of what I have seen as I can. I hope some of it can help you and your team. I try to add videos from European academies every day so please like, subscribe and hit that bell so you will know when new videos go up. On the playlist page all the videos are organized by age group and training topic so you can more easily find ideas for your sessions. Please take advantage of my instagram account (@YPTusa) where you will find 1-minute edits of the videos separated by training topics and age groups in the highlights section that you can use for quick reference for ideas for your sessions. Even more content on my website: www.YPTusa.com and all social media @YPTusa: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | Snapchat | LinkedIn. If I can be of any assistance to you, your team or organization please do not hesitate to let me know: John@YPTusa.com. If you like this video please like and subscribe. I have been fortunate to visit some of Europe's best academies and I want to pass on as much of what I have seen as I can. I hope some of it can help you and your team. I try to add videos from European academies every day so please like, subscribe and hit that bell so you will know when new videos go up. On the playlist page all the videos are organized by age group and training topic so you can more easily find ideas for your sessions. Please take advantage of my instagram account (@YPTusa) where you will find 1-minute edits of the videos separated by training topics and age groups in the highlights section that you can use for quick reference for ideas for your sessions. Even more content on my website: www.YPTusa.com and all social media @YPTusa: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | Snapchat | LinkedIn. If I can be of any assistance to you, your team or organization please do not hesitate to let me know: John@YPTusa.com. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8htpi7BYvk