Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Passing and Receiving

Chelsea Square

Players pair up; one player starts without the ball in the central small box and the other players with the ball find a space between the cones on the outside. The central players check out to receive a pass from a player on the outside, control and pass it back. They then jog through the central square and check out somewhere else. Coach can introduce opening the body with first touch, changing direction, controlling the ball from the air etc.

- Coach can also progress to players in the center having the ball and having over laps, give and go's and loinger passes.

- Remember the player must travel back through the center every time to increase the players awareness of what is happening around him/her

Quick Passing in a SSG

Practice organisation:

• Area 60x40yds, with appropriate size

goals at each end, as illustrated.

• 16 players (incl. 2GK’s), arranged 2-3-2, as shown in the diagram.

• Supply of balls by each goal.

• Players are restricted to the designated zones

& off-side applies in each end zone.

• Practice starts with: ball rolled-out from GK.

• Team in possession, look to play through the thirds

of the field, varying speed of attacking play & using

1 touch passing, if possible.

• Open play continues until the ball goes dead. The practice then

recommences with initial set-up arrangements.

Detail:

• Quick passing using 1 touch (if possible), to eliminate pressure.

• Recognition of when to use 1 touch passing & when

to slow-down play to secure ball retention.

• Use of different skills & foot surfaces to maximise

1 touch/quick play.

• Making good decisions when quick play sequences are unavailable.

• Simple progressions for this practice are:

- Units can push-up & drop-back into next zone to create 5v5 in

single & two-zone play.

- All players are ‘free’ & interchange roles & positions.

Key coaching points:

• Stretch opponents from end-to-end & side-to-side.

• Angles & distances of support.

• Appropriate speed of passes & inter-passing.

• Combination play, using minimal touches.

• Changing tempo (e.g. slowing down play, to speed-up & vice versa).

• Individual & combined movement of advanced attackers to achieve

shots on goal.

• Early selection of individual finishing techniques & execution.