Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Specific Practice / Breaking Lines

Breaking lines (20 mins)

Specific practice / Breaking lines / Working on CM body shape and playing forward

Organisation / Area Size

Area size : Half pitch split in to 3 zones

18 yard box with 3 x Blue players on the line, 3 x Reds and goalkeeper in Zone 1

20 yards box with 3 x blues and 1 x Red players with a 10mtr Safe area in the middle Zone 2

12 yards box with 3 x Red players with 2 x mini goals and 1 x Blue server Zone 3

14 players + Goalkeeper

7 x Blue, 7 Red bibs. Footballs behind the server on the halfway line.

5 x 3 min blocks with terminal feedback in between

Session Details

Blue Server starts the drill by passing to the Red team they try to break line by pass the ball to the red player in the central area, all the players in the central area can move anywhere in Zone 2 but only the red player can move in to the central shaded area. Then they can play forward to the front 3 who can try and score, the blue player on the 18 yard line can't go in to Zone 3 to begin with. If the Blue team wins the ball they can either score by shooting in to the mini goals or by passing to the server.

Challenge, conditions & Targets

1. CM has time limit on the ball

2. One of the Blue defenders on the line in zone 1 becomes a recovering defender to try and stop the reds scoring

3. One of the front three can drop in to zone 2 creating space for the CM and giving a new option for the back 3.

4. Central blue players can enter the shaded central area, but if the CM can receive and find a pass to the attacking zone from there they score 2 points.

5. Time limit on scoring in the attacking zone.

6. Limit on the number of passes/Time before the reds can score.

7. Central blue player can press the Reds in Zone 3 leaving more gaps to play through.

Key points

1. Back 3 to be patient and not force the play

2. Body shape on the half turn in an open position, receive on the back foot with your head up.

3. Weight of the pass to break the lines.

4. Decision making, Knowing when to play around, through and over

Red Team

1. Make the pitch big (Width and Depth)

2. Try to play through, around and over

3. Can they move the ball quicker

4. Try to split players with a pass

5. Look to play forward

Blue Team Key points

1. Defend narrow

2. Force out wide

3. Protect the middle

4. Prevent split passes

5. Make the pitch small

Things to keep in mind

1. Why is the CM playing backwards, is it a lack of confidence/fear of losing the ball

2. Encourage the player to be brave on the ball, not be afraid to lose the ball

3. Are we explaining to the player what we need from him tactically