Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending Overload in Midfield

Y-Drill with Finish forward (25 mins)

Learning Objectives

To improve passing, receiving and finishing skills

Technical

- Player A takes a touch inside, this triggers player B to check out then check in

- Player A passes the ball to player B who sets player A

- Player A passes to player C who sets player B

- Player B passes the ball on the other side of the mannequin to player C to shoot first time

- Players follow their pass

Practice is repeated on the opposite side.

Tactical

Physical

Psychological/Social

Developing Possession Skills (25 mins)

Learning Objectives

Three groups – ball per group

Red’s on perimeter; can move along their side of the box, receive and play to any other available red (below waist height)

Blacks + blues – move ball amongst your group – look for the times to pass or run with the ball

Try to find spaces between other colours to play through

The game (in the middle of the slide) as the reference point. The other three practices, potentially, help players work towards developing the skills and understanding to develop possession in the game. Consider which of the practices you would like to deliver/or that your players would like to play in. It isn’t always best to go from 1 to 2 to 3 and then to the game (although sometimes it is).

Possession is about passing; but isn’t only about passing. It’s about having the ball. Hopefully the practices detailed get players to look at quick passing, through passing, safe passing, running with the ball, dribbling, shielding and protecting possession.

Should you wish to use all the practices in one session; they should seamlessly move from one to the other. Depending upon the numbers in your team/age of the players; consider using a 25 x 25 area for practices 1,2 and 3 and using this area as the central part of your game with a 15 yard long scoring zone at either end with goals. This can be set up before the session starts and moved into at the point that you utilise the game.

Involve your goalkeepers. They can play in all parts of the session. Urge them to mix up using their feet and their hands and develop possession playing on the floor and distributing from hands. Consider that modern GK’s are like outfield players with gloves on.

Technical

Tactical

Physical

Psychological/Social