Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Playing from the back, 7v7, 321 formation

Screen 2 (20 mins)

Standard 4v2 rondo. Have 2 grids running at the same time.

Encourage the players in possession to imagine they are in set positions on the field: CB/LB/RB/CM or CM/LB/RB/F.

Coaching Points:

-Open body shape

-Firm passes, max 3 touches, 2 preferred, one where possible

-Pass to back foot, receive on back foot

-Movement of players to support person on the ball (including the prior passer!) Anticpate the cycling of the ball and be ready

-Try all three types of passes: first line, second line, third line

-Defenders: work as a unit, remain compact, force the ball where you have coverage and can anticipate

Progressions:

-Add a 5th possession player and place them inside the grid.

Screen 4 (15 mins)

One example (among many) of a passing pattern for playing out of the back 7v7. Be creative with your buildups and create your own patterns.

In general, look to create/use width to stretch the opponent, so that you can play back underneath. Building up on the outside of the field is easily pressed and while it may work at the young ages, it is also easy to lose the ball out of bounds either through poor touches or pressing.

Play begins at near goal with the GK. Field players are CB, LB, RB, LM, RM, F.

CB stays deeper than FB's.

Once the sequence is completed, it is repeated coming back the other way with roles maintained or with a "second unit" as coach sees fit.

Make sure to vary the side of the field from which the buildup is done.

Coaching points:

-Purposeful and firm passing

-Timing of runs

-Body shape! See the field and be ready to advance the ball

-The "non-crossing" FB should not advance all the way up the field until the sequence resets (just as in a game situation)

Progressions:

-Utilize other patterns involving midfield rotations that free up a 2nd or 3rd line pass.

Screen 6 (20 mins)

6v6+1

Purpose: an SSG to encourage switching play to all zones of the field (central and two wide zones) by the attacking team, and appropriate shape by the defending team.

For purposes of playing out from the back, this will help players learn to spread the field to create space "between" and "underneath" to play through.

The Joker will act as one of the midfielders for the team in possession and aid in developing the concepts by providing an automatic numerical advantage.

Play begins with Blue in possession, moving right to left, and is a traditional SSG with certain rules.

Rules:

-Before shooting, attacking team must play ball in all three zones, and all attacking players must move into attacking half

-If ball is in either wide zone, the defending team cannot have any players in the opposite wide zone (leave the opposite wide player open)

-If ball is in central zone, defending team cannot have any players in either wide zone (compact)

-Only one player per team is allowed in a wide zone at any time

-2 players from each team are the designated "wide" players who can assume their wide positions when appropriate (positional responsibility)

Coaching points:

-Quick movement of the ball by the attacking team through all zones

-Quick adjustments to maintain appropriate shape by defending team

-Jokers: circulate and provide options, and quickly transtion between teams when possession changes

-Quick transitions