Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): (YDP) Supporting front players in final third

(YDP) Supporting front players in final third

Practice organisation

• Area 60x40yds, divided into thirds with an off-side line drawn

15yds from each end line of practice area & goals at each end,

as illustrated.

• 16 players (incl. 2GKs) arranged 8v8, 1 ball.

• Teams are arranged 4v4 in centre zone, 2v1 (in favour of Defenders

who are pushed-up to off-side line) in end zones.

• Practice starts with: ball served into central zone

by coach & receiving team initiates attack by playing into lone striker.

• Two Attacking MF’s can be released into end zone to create 3v2 &

support front player, working to create goal-scoring opportunity.

• If D’s gain possession: they transfer ball into central zone, for their

team mates to initiate attack via their lone striker.

• A’s supporting MF’s are able to recover into central zone

to challenge.

• Practice is reset when ball goes dead.

Detail

• Challenge: try to set-up attacks off 3rd man movement.

• If recovering team regains possession it can initiate

its own counter-attack.

• Striker moving D towards ball to create space behind for runners.

• Simple progressions for this practice are:

- D’s send one player back from central zone to challenge 2

breaking players (& create a 3v3 in defensive half).

- GK gathering ball & quickly identifying opportunity to throw into

central zone where numbers are in team’s favour, to maintain

Key coaching points

• Passing & support play in central zone, looking for opportunity to

pass forward.

• Timing of runs from MF to support from behind, to the side & in

advance of the lone striker.

• Angles & distances of support behind & moving

ahead of the receiver of ball.

• Striker securing possession & holding-up play giving time for MF’s to

make ground to support.

• Striker looking for opportunity to turn D’s, to threaten goal or play

through pass to running MF player.

momentum of game (outfield players to remain aware of

restrictions)

U12 – The player should be able to complete the Learning outcomes in 4v4 functional practices.

U13 – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes during under loaded functional practices

U14 – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes during under loaded functional practice and SSG

U15/16 – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes during under loaded functional practices and 11 v 11 games.