Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 3v3 combine centrally with wide players to cross & finish

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Set Up: Setup a small, sided pitch and split the pitch into thirds. Organise a goalkeeper in each of the goals at either end. Set up a 3 v 3 in the middle third and organise a 1 v 1 in either of the wide channels. All balls in both goals.

Format: Players in the middle look work between them to play into the wide channel and then one attacker can join them to make a 2 v 1. Once the ball is played into a wide area attacker, they should be encouraged to combine to cross the ball to their team before finishing.

Progressions: Allow one defender to enter the wide area to make a 1 v 2/2 v 2.

Key Points:  Combinations: Once ball is played from central into wide area attackers should be encouraged to combine between them to play 2 v 1 against the defender before trying to score. Attackers should be encouraged to use overlaps, underlaps and give and go’s between them to combine to beat the opposition defender. Attackers can also add to disguise when in possession of the ball to pretend to combine and dribble or run with the ball themselves.

Open Body Shape: In the middle area players should be encouraged to have an open body as they look to support the player on the ball behind, beyond and beside them. An open body shape will allow attackers to be able to see both sides of the pitch as they look to play into these channels to combine and score. Players when combining should look to have an open body shape to allow them to play forwards but also see the player that they’re looking to cross too as well. Players should look to receive on their back foot where possible and check their shoulders before receiving to help them to decide upon when to combine, cross or travel with the ball.

Movement: Encourage attackers throughout the game to create movements to create space for themselves or their team mates as they look to combine and score. Attackers should look to vary their movement as they are about to receive a cross for example they may look to run from the front post to the back or the back post to the front. Alternatively, an attacker may run into the area and then hold their run to finish from a cut back. 

Cross & Finishing: The players that crosses from the wide areas should look to keep their eyes up to help them to identify the area they’re crossing into or where the attacker is. Based on the type of cross and their position/body shape players should look to adjust the type of finish that they will use to attempt to score. The attacker should look to finish off one or two touches where possible to ensure they don’t lose the opportunity to score.