Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Specific Practice +SSG - IP: Final Third

Specific (30 mins)

Welsh way principles: 

Understand when and how to combine, create and finish in the attacking third of the pitch

Key factors:

- Session topic: Specific - Final Third - In Possession

- Mode: Specific

- Age: 12-16

- Ability: Academy level

- Number of players: 15 + 1 server

- Time: 30 min

Learning objectives:

- Understand different ways how to enter the final third

- Learn positioning and movement in the final third required to score

Organisation:

- Area size: 50x50 m (LxW)

- Equipment: Balls, bibs, cones, disc markers, 1 full-size goal.

- Work to rest ratio: 5x4 min with 1 or 2 min break

Practice design:

- 8v7

- Red team: 1-2-3-1 (1 CB, 2 CDMs, 1 CAM, 2 wingers, 1 striker).

- Blue team: GK-4-2-1 (back four, 2 CMs, 1 striker). 

- Red team is coached, the blue team is managed.

- Every play starts from the server, rolling the ball to red CB

- Red team is looking to deliver the ball into the final third and score. The main goal for the red team is to deliver the ball into the box. It can be a cross or it can be combination play through the middle zone. After the ball is in the box, striker or any other attacking player aims to score the goal.

- When the red team is out of possession they will apply defensive patterns and will try to prevent the opposition from scoring.

- Blue team is managed to ensure realism by adhering to the out of possession final third principle. If the ball is won, they will look to counter-attack and score, which is to play the ball to the server or just drive into the shaded end zone.

Intervention:

- Walkthrough: Within the first break a walkthrough is used to show the players what is expected from them, especially from strikers, winger and a number 10. Basic tactical patters are provided.

- Terminal: During a break, the tactics board is used to show how different combinations can be played and also key moments from the block before are underpinned.

- Coaching process: After the unsuccessful moment has happened, stop the practice, explain and demonstrate how it should be done better. For example, winger goes down the line and drags down the full-back and a CB and tries to cross, where the chances of the successful cross are very low and eventually the cross is blocked. Instead of that is explained that after dragging down two players, the winger could have turned back, played the ball to the number 10, who is waiting at the edge of the shaded middle zone and the number 10 would have played to the striker. This would potentially outbalance the back four, create more space in the box.

- Fly by's/Drive by's: Emphasize certain technical and tactical aspects.

5 Corner Model:

Physical:

- Work to rest ratio: 5x4 min with 1 or 2 min break

- Area size: 50x50 (LxW)

Social:

- Team meetings will be held in between work periods.

Technical:

- Key points:

Ball speed

Weight of pass

Direction of pass

First touch

Body shape

Ball control

Finishing

Tactical:

- Key points:

Movement 

Positioning

Decision making

Width and depth

Combination play

Risk taking

Psychological:

Score:

- Red team: if the goal is scored after the ball was played from either shaded area = 2 points, any other way = 1 point

- Blue team: if the ball is intercepted = 1 point, an extra 1 point if the goal is scored.

 Progression:

- If the red team is spending to much time on the ball, condition the team on 2 touches.

Conditions:

- Red team: players in the box on 2 touches

- Blue team: 6 sec for the counter-attack

Target:

- To deliver the ball into the box from either shaded