Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): (YDP) Combination Play

(YDP) Combination Play

Practice organisation

- Area 60x40yds, divided into thirds with central third divided in half & appropriate size goals at each end, as illustrated.

-16 players (incl. 2 GKs), organised in two groups of 8, 2 balls.

-Practice starts with: 3v2 in each end third, plus 2 attacking MF players for each team in each of two central safe zones, who remain in their own half.

-MFs can only provide one touch passes into Attackers, through the screen of their MF opponents.

Objective of game is to pass through central zones into Attackers who look to link-up play & enter into goal scoring situations

Detail

- Realistic defending in challenge areas.

- Communication between A's & MF's essential through recognising

signals & body shape.

- Encourage clever & inventive individual & combination plays by A's.

- Range of passing skills (which may be disguised) to supply A's.

- Simple progression for this practice is:

- When receivers are allowed to use 2 touches, D's may press in

safe zones after opponents' first touch.

Key coaching points

- Challenges for players include:

- Quick play to open-up forward passing opportunities to A's.

- A's timing their movement.

- Combination & support play from front & behind in attacking areas.

- Receiving, passing, turning, dribbling & shooting skills.

- Shielding, passing & turning skills.

- Changing tempo of attacks.

- Playing in between opponents.

- Recognising & exploiting space in front & to side of D's.

U12 – The player should be able to complete the Learning outcomes in 4v4 functional practices.

U13 – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes during under loaded functional practices

U14 – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes during under loaded functional practice and SSG

U15/16 – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes during under loaded functional practices and 11 v 11 games.