Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Tracking Midfield Runners

Tracking Midfield Runners (25 mins)

Method:

Set Up as shown, half pitch - the drill involves working with one team on their central midfield shape. Include two centre backs, two strikers, two attacking midfielders & two wide players as well as a keeper. Wide players work in their zones only.

Ball is played from one of the Black teams CBs to the other. They then play the ball into one of the attacking central midfielders. The wide player travels up his zone and plays the ball across from varying positions.

Coaching Points:

Fast Tempo

Positive from the attacking side & direct

Each Defender must work on their body shape, stance & positioning - importantly their position must allow them see the ball, the wide player as well as the player they are marking

Players must make decisions at times to leave their player to defend space instead.

Keepers must help out by clearing the ball, punching away or catching crosses.

Defenders must be aware that from time to time they may lose sight of the ball especially when sprinting to track the attacking runs. It's important to regain sight of the ball asap. This is something where we switched off big time on Saturday against Springfield. We weren't sprinting to track the runners & being caught in central midfield 3v2.