Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Academy Rotational Game Play

Rotation 1 - Up back and through (5 mins)

Tactical Detail - Up Back and Through to Penetrate

• Movement to start from the 8
• 8's Movement is to receive in front of the opposition 
• 11's Movement is to receive between of the opposition
• 3's Movement is to receive beyond of the opposition 

• When the rotation starts curve your run out wide 
• Make sure your run and body can see the ball and whats happening inside of the pitch
• Hug the touch line and time your run inside as the ball is played - this will allow your first touch to take you towards goal and play forwards
• Before the ball is played into your stride can you make a double movement on the outside of the cone before cutting across it
• As the ball is played into your stride/feet can you time your run to meet the ball and receive the ball with your front foot to protect the ball from the defender 

• Start the rotation by sagging into the full back position 
• As you start your rotation, make sure you adjust your body half way through the run to back peddle and open up your body and get side on to see the whole pitch (chest should always be able to see the ball). 
• Drop deeper than the defender (cone) and time your run towards the ball as the #11 drops in to receive between
• Your penetrating pass into the wide player should be firm and straight towards their front foot so they can eliminate the defender 

• Watch the #8's movement to start the rotation. 
• To start your rotation move blindside of the defender (Cone) and time your run to drop in between the triangle to receive the ball behind / between the pivot cone
• Open your body shape up to set the ball back into the run of the full back
• Receive on the foot away from the defender (pivot cone) and use your body to protect the ball. 
• You do not want to be arriving to early, you should be moving onto the ball
• Take the weight out of the pass from the defender and set it in the path of the full back

• Detail of movement - time, speed, double movements, angles of support 
• Detail of pass - What foot, speed, accuracy and movement pathway 
• Receiving / body shape - open, make the pitch big, see the picture 

Rotation 1 - Finishing Practice (20 mins)

Tactical Detail - Up Back and Through to Penetrate

• Movement to start from the 8
• 8's Movement is to receive in front of the opposition 
• 11's Movement is to receive between of the opposition
• 3's Movement is to receive beyond of the opposition 

• When the rotation starts curve your run out wide 
• Make sure your run and body can see the ball and whats happening inside of the pitch
• Hug the touch line and time your run inside as the ball is played - this will allow your first touch to take you towards goal and play forwards
• Before the ball is played into your stride can you make a double movement on the outside of the cone before cutting across it
• As the ball is played into your stride/feet can you time your run to meet the ball and receive the ball with your front foot to protect the ball from the defender 
• First touch to eliminate the defender and your shot must be across the goal keeper into the far post. Aim outside of the post and curve it into the side netting. Do not aim for the inside otherwise it will curve into the keeper. 

• Start the rotation by sagging into the full back position 
• As you start your rotation, make sure you adjust your body half way through the run to back peddle and open up your body and get side on to see the whole pitch (chest should always be able to see the ball). 
• Drop deeper than the defender (cone)
• Open up your body shape and demand the ball from the #5 on the back foot 
• Make sure your body can see up the pitch
• When passing the ball into the midfielder, make sure you punch it with speed and accuracy on the back foot to eliminate the defender

• Watch the #8's movement to start the rotation. 
• To start your rotation move blindside of the defender (Cone) and time your run to receive between on the outside of the defender (in the channel). 
• Accelerate to receive between the channel as the ball goes into the full back, do not go to early otherwise you'll be easy to mark. 
• Create depth from you and the cone and have an open body shape to receive on the back foot
• Your first touch should eliminate the cone (defender) and be ready to punch the ball into the wide player cutting into the pitch. 

• Detail of movement - time, speed, double movements, angles of support 
• Detail of pass - What foot, speed, accuracy and movement pathway 
• Receiving / body shape - open, make the pitch big, see the picture 

9 v 9 Game (30 mins)

9 V 9 Game Situation 

White team 

• set up as a 4, 2, 3 formation 
• Game starts with the CB's passing the ball to their CB partner
• As the ball travels the rotation should start 
• Can the centre back pick the correct decision (in front, between and beyond)
• Play what you see 
• If the attack isn't on play it back the other way 
• Must attack wide areas to score first 

• Set up as a (1), 4,3,1 formation
• Control the centre of the pitch 
• Defend compact and force the opposition out wide 
• When the opposition is out wide can you create an overload (as shown on the diagram) and prevent the switch keeping them trapped in
• 1 goal if they win the ball back in a wide area
• to score play direct and score within 6 passes or 6 seconds