Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Wing back in a 3-5-2 - MD -2/3

Practice 1- Cross and recovery run (10 mins)

Players

3 wingbacks (Maroon)

3 Attackers (Green)

1 GK (Yellow)

Equipment

Balls x 15

Bibs

Cones

Mannequins x4

Mini goal

Focus on

Quality of run and cross

Intensity in recovery run

1v1 defending (delay, body position, showing down line away from central areas)

Organisation- 1 Wingback working against 1 attacker, other players rest on the side until their turn

- Wingback receives pass from coach in wide right channel and is required to get ball out of feet and run with it at pace through the mannequins.

- Once through the manequins they are required to play a cross into the area between 6 yard box and mannequins in place acting as defenders

- Once the ball has been crossed, the player is required to make a recovery sprint past an 'engagement line'

- Once the defender has crossed the 'engagement line', the attacker moves with a ball to attack the mini goal in the wide channel. Defender must aim to stop the attacker from scoring.

Progression- 2nd block- Ball played into channel for first time cross into box

Key Factors

Attacking

- Touch out of feet and move quickly with the ball

- Cross to be low and hard into zone between 6 yard box and 'defenders'

- Quick reaction from cross to recovery run- sprint!

Defending

- Engage attacker quickly

- Decelerate upon arrival and angle of approach (block off opportunity to move into central areas and show down the line!)

- Delay attacker (keep at arms length)

- Pick the right opportunity to win the ball or force backwards

Timings and Interventions 

2 x 4 minute blocks with 2 minutes rest

- Concurrent not to eat up ball rolling time, reminders of coaching points

- Terminal during rest periods to give detailed points

Practice 3- 1v1 attacking (20 mins)

Players

3 Wingbacks

2 Centre Backs

3 Attackers

Equipment

Balls x 15

Bibs

Cones

Mannequins x 1

Mini Goals x 2

Focus on

Attacking 1v1 wide areas

Defending 1v1 wide areas

Crossing (across goal, stand up back post, pull back)

Recovery run defensively to help defend the cross

Organisation

-RWB receives ball and takes on defender to try and get cross in

- If unsuccessful the other RWB must make run past mannequin and receive ball from coach on touchline to get out of feet and cross

- Wing back on opposite side must sprint back into defensive position in box to defend cross

- Identify whether to drop in and defend the back post or edge of the box?

- Ideal if the defensive wing back (WB) can win the second ball and break with the ball to goals in either channel

- If ball is cleared or goal is scored, ball rolled out from keeper into WB who must break with the ball into either mini goal

Progression- 3rd block- create 2v1 in wide area for wingback to cross

Key Factors

Attacking

- Positive and direct when attacking 1v1

- Decision making (identify when to cross)

- Quality of cross

Defending

- Sprint back in to defensive shape

- Identify the danger (back post, edge?)

- Positioning

- 'Counter attack' quickly on transition

Timings and Interventions 

3 x 4 minutes with 2 minutes rest

- Concurrent not to eat up ball rolling time, reminders of coaching points

- Terminal during rest periods to give detailed points