Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Midfield- position specific

Main Activity (30 mins)

Organization:

• Create a 40 by 30 yard box
• 3 neutral players as the midfielders - 6, 8, 10
• 5 other players operating as wingers and left/right backs
• 5v5 + 3 game inside the box

Instructions:

• Each opposing team needs to score a point by reaching the other side of the end zone
• In order to achieve a point, the team must connect a pass with the midfielder
• Midfielders are allowed to also score for their respective team
• Midfielders can only pass the ball to the team that passed them the ball. A successful pass means clear possession for the team that passed
• Opposing teams can defend the midfielders

Coaching Points/Questions:

• For the 5 attacking players - how do create openings for our midfielders to pass into (movement, triangulate passing options, spread out)
• For the midfielders - important to receive backfoot, turn hips, and facilitate forward. The cue for the midfield player is to find wide when in the middle of the middle third, receive, turn, pass wide
• Look for give-and-go situations with the 6 or 8 with the wide players. Instruct the backs the wingers to be wide to allow space for the midfielders to play in.
• Look for vertical passing lanes if the 6 or 8 are also wide, i.e., 2 plays it to the 6, plays it to the 11 in one vertical go down the side line
• If necessary, restrict players to maximum 3 touches to encourage passing. Only do this if too much dribbling is occurring and focus of activity is lost
• Technical - one-touch, two-touch, recognize usage. Outside foot pass if pressure applied when can we leverage it? Sidelines - use sole of the foot to control, do pullback to keep possession of ball

Regressions/Progressions:

• Progression - connect 5 passes before scoring to end zone
• Regression - remove 1 player from the game, make it 4v4 + 3 neutral midfielders