Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Diagonal run

Screen 1

Organization:

Stand in two short lines and practice diagonal runs in pairs with a goal and goalkeeper. Change lines and alternate between making diagonal runs and passing. Practice runs in both directions.

Instructions:

Practise fairly long diagonal runs in various directions and pass accurately to the player making the diagonal run

Coaching Points:

You can lose your marker and give support when you make a diagonal run forwards

Pass to the player making the diagonal run in good time and in the direction the player is running

Your diagonal run also makes it easier for your team-mates to give support

They can e.g. make diagonal or deep runs into the spaces you create with your run

The person with the ball can pass to a third player instead of to you

The person with the ball can also take the opportunity to perform a passing move and advance him/herself

Variations:

Switch and play the opposite side

Mark out an imaginary fixed offside line with two cones. Practise running behind the offside line diagonally, at top speed and at the right moment, without going offside.

Screen 3

Organization:

-30 x 20 area

- 2 teams of 3 players

Instructions:

Play 3v3, players practice performing diagonal runs frequently, award extra point for goal preceded by diagonal run, or if players dribble him/herself or passes to third player instead of players makig diagonal run

Coaching Points:

-Learn to recognise when and how you should perform the v-run in various situations

You can e.g. run diagonally away from the person with the ball first

Do this in good time, before the person with the ball comes under too much pressure

Run away at a reasonable speed so that the opponent who is marking you can keep up

Turn suddenly and quickly with one step so that the defender has difficulty keeping up

-Your diagonal run creates space; keep this space open for as long as possible

You then have e.g. more chance of giving support during your 'third run'

You can then give support, e.g. forwards in the deep, in the space created

If you have run at a good angle, you can then receive the pass straight forwards in the deep

This is often extremely valuable and more difficult for your opponents

You can e.g. give support and receive the ball in the direction of your run straight towards your opponents' goal

Your diagonal run can also enable other players to give support in the space you create

The person with the ball can then pass to a third player instead of to you

The person with the ball can also take the opportunity to perform a passing move and advance him/herself

Screen 5

Organization:

-30 x 20 area

- 2 teams of 3 players

Instructions:

Play 3v3, players practice performing diagonal runs frequently, award extra point for goal preceded by diagonal run, or if players dribble him/herself or passes to third player instead of players makig diagonal run

Coaching Points:

-Learn to recognise when and how you should perform the v-run in various situations

You can e.g. run diagonally away from the person with the ball first

Do this in good time, before the person with the ball comes under too much pressure

Run away at a reasonable speed so that the opponent who is marking you can keep up

Turn suddenly and quickly with one step so that the defender has difficulty keeping up

-Your diagonal creates space; keep this space open for as long as possible

You then have e.g. more chance of giving support during your 'third run'

You can then give support, e.g. forwards in the deep, in the space created

If you have run at a good angle, you can then receive the pass straight forwards in the deep

This is often extremely valuable and more difficult for your opponents

You can e.g. give support and receive the ball in the direction of your run straight towards your opponents' goal

Your diagonal run can also enable other players to give support in the space you create

The person with the ball can then pass to a third player instead of to you

The person with the ball can also take the opportunity to perform a passing move and advance him/herself