Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Breaking Lines (442 v 433) - Defensive Half - Specific into SSG

Specific

Set-Up/Practice Layout:

Coached Team (Blue) playing 442 diamond with GK, Back 4 and midfield 4, playing against 433 with midfield 3 and front 3.

Blues build-up play to their 10 (who is restricted to the shaded area) who sets for someone to score in either mini-goal on the half way line (positioned to represent movement made by either 9 running into channel.

Red team aim to win back possession and score past the GK in the main goal.

3 blocks:

Block 1 - 5 minutes - understand task and identify problems/initial errors to coach

Block 2 - 7 minutes - Pattern 1

Block 3 - 7 minutes - Pattern 2

2 minutes recovery between blocks for terminal interventions.

Coaching Plan:

Block 1 - outline desire to play forwards into 10 and break lines. Emphasise key technical points (ball speed, receiving on back foot, being on half-turn where possible, scanning). Explore movements players make naturally.

Block 2 - Outline Pattern 1 (explained below)

Block 3 - Outline Pattern 2 (explained below)

Pattern 1 - FB deep, CM moves into wide space. If our ball side FB is deep in the build-up then out ball side CM moves high & wide. If their marker doesn't follow then CB can play in to CM to receive on half-turn and look to play forward either to 10 or to score directly. If marker follows CM into wide space, then passing lane created for CB to play in to 10. CM either gets higher than marker to receive ball in front, or makes second movement back inside to receive and drive into central space.

Pattern 2 - FB high, CM rotates into space created by FB. When our ball side FB moves high in build-up then our CM can rotate into the space created by our FB. If winger doesn't follow FB then CB should look for clipped ball to FB. If winger does follow, but CM doesn't follow our CM then our CM can get onto the ball in space to turn and play forwards, either to 10 or direct into the goal. If both players are followed, passing lane is created to play into 10, who looks to set for FB moving high. 

Challenges/Conditions/Targets - CM should look to play forwards upon receiving - can we get them free to receive and turn out to play forwards. 10 should look to play 1 or 2 touches to find a player who is free and facing forwards to be able to score.

Position Specific details - roles of FB, CM and 10 outlined above. CDM looks to be option for CB if opposition 9 goes to press ball, Far side CB also an option to switch play back out if opposition prevent forward pass via patterns. Far side FB should stay wide to be an option if we need to switch. Far side CM should look to time movement to receive from 10 if we can successfully play in.

Interventions:

Block 1 - concurrent to reinforce technical details while players explore practice design.

Terminal to outline patterns we want to explore within each block

Coaching Process/Walkthrough - look to jump in and coach through a walkthrough if pattern of movement not right within first few attempts. Good opportunity for players to visualise the movement in front of them and the options defence have to choose between.

Terminal - Seek feedback from players at each stop and reinforce learning objectives before layering on next topic.

SSG

Set-Up/Practice Layout:

Coached Team (Blue) playing 442 diamond with GK, Back 4 and midfield 4, playing against 433 with GK, FBs, midfield 3 and front 3.

Blues look to build-up play via their 10 and score. 

Red team aim to win back possession and score past the GK.

Split into 5 minute blocks with terminal interventions to clarify remaining points areas to improve, no specific themes/challenges in each block.

Challenges/Conditions/Targets - CM should look to play forwards upon receiving - can we get them free to receive and turn out to play forwards. 10 should look to play 1 or 2 touches to find a player who is free and facing forwards to be able to score.

Position Specific details - roles of FB, CM and 10 outlined above. CDM looks to be option for CB if opposition 9 goes to press ball, Far side CB also an option to switch play back out if opposition prevent forward pass via patterns. Far side FB should stay wide to be an option if we need to switch. Far side CM should look to time movement to receive from 10 if we can successfully play in.