Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Midfield support in 4-4-2

Component 1 Option 1 Support from wide midfielder (5 mins)

Organisation

Working in half a pitch

16 players - 14 outfield 2 gk

Activity

Session designed to work on midfield support in a 4-4-2 formation.

Attacking team will be set up 2-4-2

Defending team will start off just as a back 4 gradually progressing it by adding 2 midfielders

Attacking team will shoot into the large goal and if defenders win possession they look to play into small sided goals.

Pattern of play

Right defender will start with the ball and pass to the right midfielder

On recieiving the ball the right midfielder will look to link up with the 1st striker

The right midfielder will play a 1-2 with the striker then look to deliver a cross

Strikers will spin and look to get on the end of the cross

Midfielders will make runs into box to support player on ball and give options for the cross

Coaching Points

Strikers looking to work together moving in relation to the ball

1st striker drops checks away and drops in to link up with supporting right midfielder

2nd striker becomes central and lengthens the game

Good 1-2 with wide midfielder focusing on first touch

1st striker spins and times their run looking to arrive in the box

2nd striker spins out arcing their run then looking to make a run across to the front post

Opposite supporting wide midfielder timing run into back post

2nd supporting centre mid being the 3rd man runner timing their run into edge of the box

Wide midfielder to get their head up before they cross

Different type of cross (driving, floated & cut back)

Screen 3 (5 mins)

Organisation

Working in half a pitch

16 players - 14 outfield 2 gk

4 mannequin's acting as defenders

Activity

Working on finishing & striker movement

Going through 2 different situations in a game and with a few options when in these positions

Looking at firstly linking up with the 1st striker

Pattern of play - 1st striker what if?

Right defender will start with the ball and pass to the right midfielder

On recieiving the ball the right midfielder will look to link up with the 1st striker

The 1st striker will receiving the ball and look to play 1 of the 2 options they have worked on

The 2 options arent available and now this is called the what if?

The what if? shows what is available if those options arent available

Here the 1st striker will open up the play and pass is to the 2nd centre mid who will then play it out wide

From there the strikers will spin and look to get into the box along with the opposite wide midfielder

Coaching Points

Strikers looking to work together moving in relation to the ball

1st striker drops checks away and drops in to link up with right midfielder

2nd striker becomes central and lengthens the game

Good first touch and open the body to open up the play

Good weight of pass

Use the width from wide midfielder

1st striker spins and times their run looking to arrive in the box

2nd striker spins out arcing their run then looking to make a run across to the front post

Opposite wide player timing run into back post

2nd centre mid being the 3rd man runner timing their run into edge of the box

Wide midfielder to get their head up before they cross

Different type of cross (driving, floated & cut back)

Striker Movement 2nd Striker Option 2 (5 mins)

Organisation

Working in half a pitch

16 players - 14 outfield 2 gk

4 mannequin's acting as defenders

Activity

Working on finishing & striker movement

Going through 2 different situations in a game and with a few options when in these positions

Now looking at linking up with the 2nd striker

Pattern of play - 2nd striker option 2

Ball will start at the right or left back and passes out to the wide midfielder

The wide midfielder will look to play 1st striker if possible if not then the ball is dropped back to the CM

The 1st striker shows for the ball but the centre mid plays into 2nd striker

Instead of spinning in behind the 1st striker will make a run across the face of the 2nd striker

On receiving a pass from the centre mid the 2nd striker will hold the ball up for the 1st striker run

The 2nd striker will lay the ball off for the first striker who will then shoot at goal

Coaching Points

Use the width of the pitch

Striker work together moving in reltaion to the ball

Good weight of pass

Communication

Timing of runs

Movement off the ball to loose opposition

Compusure infront of goal

Phase of Play (15 mins)

Organisation

16 players - 9v7

7 red players v 9 blue players (creating an overload against defending team

Working in just over half a pitch using full width.

Activity

Free play phase of play.

Coach is looking for times in the game when defending team don't do what was worked on in component 1.

The coach is then looking to show the team the solution and what could have been done in that situation then let the play go again and hopefully the team will perform better in that situation.

The blues will be shooting into the large 11 a side goal.

If the reds win the ball they look to find the green feeder for a goal.

Each time the ball goes behind for a goal kick the play will re start from the feeder.