Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Shooting or combination play shooting game

Screen 1

Setup: Small sided game that is the width of the 18-yard box and double in length. Organise a goalkeeper in a goal at either end of the pitch. Organise two teams that are playing against one another and must try and score in the opposite goal. There is an overload of 3 v 1 in the defending half of the pitch. Four target players are based around the outside of the pitch and can be played into to combine with other attackers. Rotate the attackers, defenders and target players regularly i.e. winner stays on.

Weight & Quality of Pass:  To retain possession and create opportunities, look to pass the ball between them waiting for openings to occur. They may need to work the ball side to side to create that space or even better if they can play into the forward or target players to then combine. Any passes need to be well weighted so the player receiving has a good chance of dealing with the ball within 2 touches or playing first time.

Ball Speed: Players must move the ball quickly to create space so they can get strikes on goal. Throughout the game and due to the size of the area, players should be continually looking to scan both when they are in and out of possession of the ball to help them to recognise who and where they should look to play into. Players should look to use the outside target players to help them to combine to score.

Combination Play: Players should look to play off one or two touches to help them to create opportunities to finish. Players may need to speed up their weight of pass and how they work with one another to create goalscoring opportunities. Players should look to position themselves to see both the ball as well as the goal. Players should look to create space through width and depth which will either help them to combine in central and wide areas. Encourage players to move to create overloads as well as run in advance of the ball too.

Finishing: Based on where the ball is come from and their position/body shape players should look to adjust the type of finish that they will use to attempt to score. Players should look to finish using one or two touches where possible to ensure they don’t lose the opportunity to score.