Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Passing & Receiving (9v9)

Technical Warmup (20 mins)

Technical WarmUp (20 Minutes) 

Introduction of session topic: Passing & Receiving

• Small activities in 3's and 4’s that are short and sharp
• Multiple repetitions for each action
• Short interventions to maximize time on task and physical demands
• Constant focus on technical skills
• Fast-paced with little downtime

Organization:

4 Teams of 3 Players - one team in each box

Instructions:

Box 1: Juggling

Box 2: Short, Short, Long Passing

 Players follow their pass

Box 3: Triangle Passing to the right 

 Players stay at their cone 

Progressions: 

Round 1: 75 seconds of each activity, then rotate clockwise (6 min)

Round 2: Competitive 75-second round of each activity, then rotate clockwise (6 min)

Round 3: Combine two groups (6 blue and 6 red): Competitive sequenced passing blue vs. red) (6 min)

Coaching Points:

Technical breakdown of instep 1st touch/pass. Pace of pace, accuracy of pass (which foot?), communication (verbal & non-verbal), open body shape to receive, ball out from feet

Directional 5v2 (25 mins)

Directional 5 v 2 Activity (25 Minutes)

Passing - Opposed 

Instructions:

Play begins when red plays a ball to the central player and two reds join the field. The pass onto the field triggers 2 blue players to join as defenders, creating a 5 v 2. Each red player must touch the ball before going to goal. If blue wins the ball, they can go to goal immediately. Once the ball is dead or a goal is scored, players clear the field and a new ball is played into the central player. New blue defenders cannot join until they are "tagged-in" by their teammates leaving the field. 

Organization:

• Field size = 18X14
• Central and wide players remain in their role through the remainder of the round
• Rotate defenders and wide roles after 4 minute rounds (3 sets of 4 defenders)

Progression:

• No restriction as to when players can go to goal.
• Defenders can join immediately.
• If play is too slow, introduce a time-limit for getting to goal

Coaching Points:

• Encourage high-tempo passing when the transition between new defenders is happening
• Encourage quick play between the 5 to use advantage of the overload
• Can players recreate some of the patterns from Y-Passing?
• Recognize the advantage (5v2) and create angles of support with movement off the ball 
• Body shape open to the goal