Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Building in Zone 1&2, 4-1-3-2 Diamond

3v1 (15 mins)

Objective: To ensure the players are fully engaged for the session and to introduce basic concepts. 

Organization: 8x8(x2), 8-9 players. 

Conditions of play: 

Players will look to complete 1 pass in their square before looking to transfer the ball over to the opposite side. Players must work only on the line, not inside or outside the square. 

1 defender pressuring, 1 screening the pass across, when transferred, they switch roles (if 9 players, rotation happens where working player steps out, screening becomes working and resting becomes screening) 2 touch maximum. 

Points scored through transferring the ball (attacking team) or winning possession and dribbling out (defending team)

Coaching Points: 

• Angles to receive
• Playing to the front foot 
• Changing the rhythm of play - i.e. quicker tempo to create spaces and gaps between defenders 
• Shutting off angles and communication to where to force the ball (defenders) 

Phase (30 mins)

Objective: To bring the small picture from the functional into a larger scale view for the players to see more of the moving parts. 

Organization: 65Wx75L, 21 players

Conditions of play: Normal Soccer rules, Red team get one point for getting the ball into the shaded area, 3 points if they can play a pass or dribble through the gates shown. White get 2 points for a goal. Freedom of movement anywhere with the shaded area being part of the active zone at all times. 

Coaching Points: 

• Primary Players: Outside Midfielders & FB's. - Coaching the movement with one low one high and recognizing moments to do so such as FB taking the winger away in the build up, or to go FB vs FB to create a 1v1 with the CM providing protection and support under the ball vs a higher line of pressure, FB's can drop low to open up the midfield to create passing lanes above as shown. 
• Recognizing high pressure vs low pressure and exploiting appropriate spaces - if line is high and compact, we can look beyond the back line, if disconnected, can we find players in the space between with the 9 always stretching supported by FB's or outside midfielder. 
• Continuing the principle of 5. 
• Quality angles to receive and playing to the correct foot, giving the information before receiving and making sure the decision making process is clear and made as early as possible.