Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Combination & Finishing Session 2

Possesson & Transition Warm Up

Organization: 4 grids (must suitability ofgroup). 9 Players ideal, can be more or less. 1 ball per excercise. Coned off area in middle for defenders.

Instructions: Attackers must play a certain amount of passes (example 5) before being able to play ball into another grid. Defenders must then change when this happens (they communicate this amongst themselves) and there always must be 3 attackers in the grid with the ball and 1 defender (4 players and a ball). Every other zone must have only 1 attacker in it at all times.

Defenders can not go in to a grid until allattackers are in.

If defeners win the ball they must play the ball into another grid.

Coaching Points:

1) When to move

2) Where to move to (support left and right is ideal)

3) Why you move to those positions (to make the defenders job harder to cover ground and passing channels)

4) Role of 2nd and 3rd attacker (constant movement to keep passing lanes open or what are called the 'windows' open). 2nd & 3rd attackers have to work hardest of all.

5) Good weight, speed and accuracey of pass (these should all facilitate the move working correctly).

6) Great communication, both verbally and visually.

Progressions:

Players can now make through runs in order to transition between boxes.

2 balls in and two groups of players active at the same time & 2 defenders can now defend.

All 4 defenders can now defend.

Combination Play

Organization: As many grids as required. 4/5/6 Players per grid. 1 ball per group. Pop up goals with spare balls in.

Instructions: Player A must get the ball to Player D. He can do this directly or with the help of his team mate, Player B.

Rotation;

A goes to B

B goes to C (C gives B his bib).

C goes to D

D goes to A (or to the back of the line if there are a line of spare players).

Passive or Active to start.

Coaching Points:

1) Talk about field positioning, where to receive the ball (high or low) to allow penetration or a pass back but not too far up as to allow the interception, depending upon the positioning of the defender.

2) Try to adjust body to open up, face forward and allow a back foot receipt of the ball and be able to play forward.

3) Talk about the pros & cons of front & back foot receiving & passing & when and where they are likely to be done based on pressure from a defender.

Players A, B & D must all communicate and open up passing lanes.

4) Passes must be played quick enough to allow player to escape the defender, too slow and it puts the receiver under pressure. Passes should eventually be so quick that they can draw defenders out of position.

Progressions:

1) Player C now pressures Players B & D who play a 2v1 against Player C to get over the half way line. 2) Last player with the ball goes 1v1 to goal against Player A.