Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Playing thru the zones

Warm-up: Passing relay races (15 mins)

Organisation:  Divide area into 3 zones.  Have 2 teams.  Each team begins with 4 players positioned at edge of each zone per diagram, and one player in middle of 1st zone.  

Activity:  Player A at edge of start line plays pass to player B at edge of next zone, who plays pass back to player C in middle of start zone.  Player C plays pass to player D at edge of next zone, who plays it back to player B who makes run into next zone.  Player B plays pass to player E who plays it back to player D who makes run into next zone.  D plays pass back to E who curls off to get ball back.  Player E dribbles ball back into initial zone and passes to next player in line.  Sequence continues until players are in their intial positions, first team to do so wins the relay.  

Coaching Points:  Get warmed up physically, technically and mentally, with running movement, passes and competitiveness of race. 

3 Zone Game (20 mins)

Organization

-12 players

-area approx. 45x30 split into 3 15x10 areas (adapt based on age/ability/numbers)

Activity

-6v6 3 zone game - creating multiple 3v1/2v2/3v2/1v3 situations

-Players try to advance the ball through the zones to score on opposition in one of the 2 mini nets

-Player that make a successful pass into a team mate in next zone can move into that zone to support the play (player could possible progress to the next zone too)

-If possession is lost players must move back to orginal zone

Progressions

-Players can pass the ball over 2 zones

-Players can inter-change positions between zones

Coaching Points

-What different demands did you face in different zones on the field?  What was the common features regardless of the zone you where?

- Do players find opportunities to advance ball through the zones?  Do players have numerical superiority to play passes within zone or score? Do players lack numbers and need to pass to support players to create stronger numbers?  Do players recognize opportunities to advance through the zones to support the attack?