Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): U13/14 Boys - First touch

3v0 into 3v1 (15 mins)

Organization:

- As many grids as needed, 5x5 yard grids or adjusted as needed

- 3v0 in each grid, can then progress into 3v1 or 4v1

Instructions:

- Players are working on passing, receiving, and moving in the space.

- The first attacker always needs support to their left and right, so movement off the ball will come from the player who is "inactive" for the passing interaction.

- Allow for players to understand who is moving, why they are moving, and begin to layer in pressure (in the form of passing or time constraints)

Coaching Points:

- Receiving across our body, opening up our hips to play both ways. HOW? WHY?

- Strong weight of pass, targeting our teammates backfoot to allow them to open up and play either way. WHY? HOW?

- Communication off the ball, verbal and nonverbal to instruct the passer or receiver.

- Movement off of the ball to support the first attacker. WHERE? WHY?

- What kind of touch are we taking to receive and set up our next pass?

- How can we disguise our next pass?

- Defensive principles for the player in the middle.

- Progress into a 3v1 or 4v1 depending on numbers.

- Can allow for one defender to remain in the middle and tally score for 90 seconds, or actively switch every time the defender wins possession and is able to dribble out of the grid successfully.

2v2+2 (20 mins)

Organization:

- Space adjusted as needed

- 2v2+2

- Depending on odd numbers, can add a joker in the middle

Instructions:

- Players are trying to play from one target to the other, 2v2 in the middle. Can pass back to the target in buildup trying to penetrate through.

- If given the space, target players can pass through the middle to each other.

- 2:30-3 minutes on, 30 seconds rest and rotation of targets into the middle.

Coaching Points:

- Can our width drag the defenders outside to create an opportunity to penetrate down the middle?

- If defenders stay narrow, can our movement drag them or create space for third player to have opportunity to turn and play forward or to receive a pass behind the defenders to play through.

- Timing of our movement, where can we create space and how can we create space to play in behind/through?

- Communication verbal and nonverbal to give cues to our teammates on our actions and instructions on what needs to happen.

- When we have the ball, can we penetrate? If not, what next? When and why can we play it back?

- How can we commit the defender to one side, or to one player to create space for a teammate?

- How can we lose our marker off the ball to play in behind?

- Looking long to be able to play short.

- Weight of the pass, body shape when receiving unopposed or opposed, what is the difference?

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- When we lose the ball, how can we win it back immediately?

- When we lose the ball, where do we want to force it? How?

- Press or retreat/delay?

- Get compact immediately

- Communication

- When we win the ball how can we allow ourselves the best opportunity to open up while maintaining possession?

- Shape when we win vs when we lose