Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Build up Play from the flanks in Zones 1 & 2

Warm Up (20 mins)

Objectives -

To have the players bodies and minds, adequately prepared for the session they are about to participate in.

Organization and Equipment -

Field size, From left to right - Stage 1: 25x25, Stage 2: 25x25, Stage 3: 30x42 (30x20 each field),16 Players.

8 Balls, 8 Blue bibs, 8 Red bibs, 4 pug nets, 8 Orange cones (16 if the field isnt marked as shown on diagram.

Key Factors for application -

Ensuring appropriate body activation.

Start slow and increase the intensity as the warm up goes on

Get the players doing realistic movements that they will be doing in the session (i.e running, changing direction, communicating, passing, receiving, shooting).

Conditions of exercise -

Stage 1: A neuromuscular, series of continous movement to increase the heart rate with different dynamic exercises (5 minutes)

Stage 2: Different changes of direction whilst introducing technical and cognitive stimulation through passing and moving, increasing the intensity for 5 minutes.

Stage 3: 2 x 4v4 possession game with 2 goals per game, Normal soccer rules apply, except dribble or pass in replace throw ins and no offsides.. (2x 4 minute games)

Variables -

Area used, number of players, direction of play in stage 3, exercises used in stage 1, intensity of each stage, training session vs game.

Analytical (20 mins)

Objectives -

To build out in zones 1 and 2 to be able to penetrate into the oppositions half of the field.

Organization and Equipment -

60 L x 50 W, 16 players. 4-4-2 vs 4-2-3-1

1 full size goals

12 balls

14 orange cones

1 green bib

1 yellow bib

7 blue bibs

7 red bibs

Key Factors for application -

Ensuring there is width and depth when building out. Ensuring mobility from the players in front to create space to be able to penetrate. Being patient in possession and not forcing the ball. Being able to aid 'the intelligent player' in their decision making and recognizing when to be patient, when to penetrate. Coaching the players body shape to be open and angles to receive will also allow the build up to be much more effective. i.e. If the centre back should receive the ball on his back foot with the intention to play forward but the centre midfielder, the right back and the right midfielder are all checking down at the same time leaving the team in possession with no depth, meaning penetration and being able to advance in order to break lines and advance into the next zone, will become very difficult, thus the coaching point being the movement above the ball, timing and providing different scenarios and different options to help the player but to allow the 'intelligent player' to solve the problem, whether this be with patience or penetration. 

Conditions of exercise -

Restarts: These are played in either from the goalkeeper like a goalkick, or the 4/5/6 can receive the ball from a server and the play becomes live from his first touch.

The team starting in possession (the team being coached (red)) to score a point must penetrate the end zone through either a pass that must be received by a player making a run into the zone or by dribbling into the end zone (there will be opposition defenders in there to add to the realism and promote recognizing when to penetrate quickly when available) The opposing team will be asked to pressure the ball with a high press and when they win possession they can score on net. Opposing centre backs must stay in the end zone.

Progression, if attacking team is finding success regularly, then the central defenders can move anywhere they wish and put more pressure on the opposition to give the defending team the numerical advantage to challenge the attacking team further.

Variables -

Number of players each area, size of each area, number of players used, direction of play, ways to score.

Cool Down (10 mins)

Objectives -

To bring the players heart rate down slowly whilst stretching to reduce the lactic acid build up to aid recovery.

Organization and Equipment -

25x25 Field size, 14 players

12 cones (if the area is unmarked as shown in the diagram)

Key Factors for application -

To ensure that each individual experiences mental and physical relaxation through the slow running and recovery exercises.

Ensure flexibility is maintained/increased whilst the muscles are still warm after an intense training session along with encouraging good nutrition and hydration to maximize this recovery process.

Conditions of exercise -

Jogging around initially, doing less intense dynamic exercises for 15-20 seconds at a time with a jog for 5 seconds in between for 5 minutes. Then static stretches for 10 minutes holding each stretch for 20-30 seconds.