Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Using Positional Play To Exploit Central Areas

Rondos (15 mins)

Practice Objective 

Help players develop passing angles and lines in order to maintain and progression possession.

Area Sizes
6x10m 

Session Explanation

Using 4v1 and 4v2 set ups as when playing centrally in our 4-4-2 diamond our midfield should provide the ball carrier with a minimum 3 options to play in to. Simple rondo rules, if you concede possession you swap in with the defender, however conditions can be added to increase the intensity. Players challenge each other by totalling up their passes, highest score wins and can pick a forfeit for the others at the end. Look to place players in similar positions as they'd be in a real game, e.g. CAM and CDM facing each other, wing backs or wide midfielders either side. 

Conditions & Challenges

• When a player loses possession to a defender they must attempt to close down the new ball carrier quickly, if they can win possession back and find a teammate they don't have to swap out, however if the defender can act quickly and find a pass they switch out.
• Can players go 1/2 touch, to speed up play. 
• Place more technical players in the 4v2 to add more challenge. 

• Once the ball has been played move to open passing angles for teammates. 
• Scan before receiving possession to speed up decision making and technical actions.
• Look to receive with an open, side on body positioning so you can see the three options available and find them quickly. 

Conditioned 8v8 Game (25 mins)

Practice Objective

The purpose of this practice is to encourage players to play through central areas and for central players to recognise varying movements and combinations in order to progress possession. 

Area Size

60x40m

Session Explanation

The session is designed to funnel play through the centre of the pitch. The wide areas can be accessed but only by wide midfielders, looking to encourage positional discipline. CDMs can enter into the defensive third to aid deeper build up, CAMs can enter the attacking third to increase potential scoring opportunities, and wide midfielders can enter all three zones. CBs can dribble or move into the central zone to create potential overloads. 

Conditions & Challenges

• For the any player to attempt a shot on goal, a minimum of one player must have entered the attacking third from the central zone to support the attack.
• Play must go through the centre, direct passes through or over take away the sessions objectives. 
• Introduce the 1v1 rule in the centre, encouraging players to move into the central area to create overloads and progress the ball. 

Coaching Detail

• Play 1/2 touch if possible and utilise overloads. 
• Look to dribble, pass or run forward when possible using the correct receival technique and plenty of scanning, in turn helping break lines.
• Off the ball movement to create space, when the space is created, timing of the runs into that space must be good to exploit it. E.g. CAM moves wide drawing their marker, opening space for a forward run from either wide midfielder to drive into the final third.