Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Positional Play

Positional Play Centre Pitch (10 mins)

Organisation:

30x30 yard square

Two groups of 6 players working together

Start with two balls simultaneously in opposite corners

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Aim:

Short and Long Passing

Combination Play

Timing of Movement

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Sequence:

Attacking:

8 plays to 9. 9 receives and plays to 10. 10 then plays to 5 (simulates a pass to a winger/overlapping fullback surging forward)

Defensive:

5 plays to 6. 6 receives and plays to 4. 4 then plays to 8 (exactly like a direct pass into an Attacking Midfielder)

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Coaching Points:

-5, 4, 8 + 10 should play two touch

-6 + 9 should try to play one touch

-Check away then back before receiving in the middle areas (6+9) to throw off marker and enable to move towards the pass and play one touch/first time

Passing Out Wide (15 mins)

Organisation:

25x35 Area

4v4+3 Neutral Players (yellows)

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Aim:

Attacking team to maintain possession within specific positional roles, focusing on Width

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Rules:

8 Passes = 1 Goal for the Attacking Team

Intercept and make 3 Passes for Defending Team

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Coaching Points:

-Attacking Team to open up the pitch, make as big as possible

-Move the ball quickly and decisively

-Defending team to work together and close the space, narrow and compact

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Time:

Play for 3 mins then swap teams around

Passing Through the Centre With Finish (25 mins)

Same Organisation and Aims as previous game.

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Progression:

-After 5 passes including one with a neutral player, they can then play to the Striker (9) who turns and has 3 seconds to shoot

-9 can also set an attacking midfielder to break forward into the box and shoot (must be a one-touch set)

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Time:

Play for 3 mins then swap teams