Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Playing Out From the Back

Technical Warm Up (15 mins)

Organization

3 stations, 4 players at each station with 2 at each outside cone. 

Central cone in each station.

Ball in each side.

Rotate each station after 5 mins.

Phase 1

Player at each side dribbles up to the central cone and plays a through pass to player coming up on the other side. Receiving player then plays a one touch pass to the outside player they are facing and follows their pass to the back of that line. Outside players repeat process.

Phase 2

Players carry the ball up to the central cone and bounce their ball. After bouncing it, they leave it to go and half-volley the other player's ball back to the outside player they are facing, following their pass. Outside players take the ball and repeat the process.

Phase 3

Players dribble to central cone and pass (A) to outside player they are facing, following their pass. Outside player plays a one touch pass (B) into oncoming player, and moves around the outside of the cone, where they receive another pass (C) from the oncoming player. Outside player then dribbles to central cone and repeats process, becoming the Oncoming player.

Technical Station 2 - Building Possession (15 mins)

Organization

20x40 yard grid

4 cones/mannequins inside the grid, 2 at the long ends of each side.

1 player on each cone

Collection of balls at the ends

Activity

Players pass and move following the sequence as shown. Both ends go at the same time. Players on the inside rotate clockwise amongst the inner cones. Server/target players switch every 5 minutes.

Try to use at most 2 touches.

Coaching Points

• Positive first touches
• Play with speed
• Quick movement to keep up with pace of play
• Play the ball on the move.

Players switch with Technical Station 1 After 15 minutes

Playing Out From the Back Pattern (25 mins)

Organization

• Mannequins/balls on cones dispersed as shown.
• Players arranged as shown.

Activity

Players play in the sequence as shown.

Play starts with goalkeeper playing to CB. As ball travels to CB, CM drops to receive the ball from CB. As ball travels to CM, RB begins run down touchline, simultaneously CM plays into RM, who plays it into the path of the RB. RB crosses into RM who finishes into the far minigoal.

Switch from right to left after 10 minutes.

Progression: Spare RB becomes pressure on CB, CM and GK. Now need to consider different options to progress the ball.

Coaching Points

• Play with speed
• Body and movement cues
• Positive touch into space
• First touch forward
• Communication (after progression)