Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Specific practice - Out of possession - Breaking lines

Specific Practice

Organisation
- 18 players split into two teams.
- Red team - 1 x GK, 2 x CB's, 2 x CM's, 1 x RM, 1 x No. 10, 1 x LM
and 1 x No. 9.
- Blue team - 1 x GK, 1 x RB, 1 x CB, 1 x LB,1 x RM, 2 x CM's, 1 x LM
and 1 No. 10.
- Start with half a pitch, move one full size goal onto the halfway
line and taper lines from the posts to 10 yards awayfrom the
halfwayline and 5 yards in from the touch line.
- Extend the outer lines of the 18 yard boxso theyrun out towards
the halfwayline. This line of cones should end 5 yards before the
tapered line.
- All of the footballs should be in or to the side of the blue goal.
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How it works
- Play will start with the blue team GK where they will look to play
out from the back and cross the white line which represents the
transition between defensive and middle third, where they have a
possible 8 v 6 overload.
- The red team will look to press, using the goal kick as a trigger for the press. If they manage to win possession, they have 8 seconds
to counter attack and score.
- The reds will gain one point for winning possession of the ball and three for a goal.
- The blue team will gain one point for playing through, around or over the white line and three points for a goal.
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Key coaching points (red team)
- Protect the middle, (don't press when the ball is with the GK, press when the ball is travelling from the GK).
- Force the direction of play, (No. 9 angles their run to force the GK's kick to a FB while the midfield shuffles across to squeeze the
space.
- Staycompact to prevent split passes.
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Manage the opposition
- Playthrough, around or over.
- Play with width and depth.
- Move the ball quickly.
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Challenges
- Red team - win the ball high so there is less distance to cover when counter attacking.
- Blue team - playthrough, around or over the red team.
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Conditions
- Red team - 8 seconds to counter attack when in possession of the ball.
- Blue team - The ball must cross the white line (into middle third) before theycan shoot.
- Onlythe midfielders for both teams can cross over the line from one zone to the other.
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Targets
- Red team - press high and win the ball in sixseconds without getting split by a pass.
- Blue team - playthrough the opposition press.
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What ifs
- What if the blues break the forward line of the reds? - recovery runs.
- What if the reds win don't win possession within 6 seconds? - regain shape.