Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): SRU Positional Games

7v7 + 3 Position Game (11v11) (20 mins)

Organization:

- 7v7+3 (+ optional keeper)

- Gray team trying to score on the goal, yellow team trying to target the 9

- Edge of box/18 yard line is offside

- 24-36 wide by 36-44 long

- Black players are neutral

- Ball out starts with 3 and 4

Coaching Points:

Emphasize a few specific coaching points below based on training aim.

WE:

- Make it big, all players with proper starting position

- Create triangles and many lines

- Read game before recieving the ball

- Players playing in relation to each other stay on different horizontal & vertical lines (3, 6, 9 or 5, 11 etc)

- Open up body to field, first touch in relation to next action

- Appropriate ball speed to situation

- Pass to set up teammate for next action ( top foot, away from defender, ball to hit first time) (pass with a message)

- Communication

- Skip lines, play the way you face to player with vision, find the 3rd man option

- Look for deepest option when you win the ball (THEY to WE)

THEY:

- Make it small

- Force opponent to the outside, then shift all players to that half of the field (cone for reference)

- Cut out forward passing lines

- Communication

- Cover/support/balance by teammates

- 1v1 defending (pressure on the ball by the nearest player)

- Win the ball back within 5 seconds (WE to THEY)

Progressions / Variations:

- Start with objective to target 9 on both sides

- Add zone to play 7/9/8/10/11 into

- Add goal and must target 9 before penetrating

- Add goal and allow attackers/defenders to enter into the box (use offside line)

- Time limit for team to score or win the ball

- Adjust numbers for 9v9 (6v6+3) or 7v7 (5v5+2 or 4v4+3) or system

- Adjust system of teams (example, playing against a 1-4-4-2)

4v4+3 Position Game (7v7) (20 mins)

Organization:

- 4v4+3

- Both teams trying to target the 9

- 18 wide by 24 long (adjust as needed)

- Black players are neutral

- Ball out starts with 1/9

Coaching Points:

Emphasize a few specific coaching points below based on training aim.

WE:

- Make it big, all players with proper starting position

- Create triangles and many lines

- Read game before recieving the ball

- Players playing in relation to each other stay on different horizontal & vertical lines (3, 10, 9 or 7, 11 etc)

- Open up body to field, first touch in relation to next action

- Appropriate ball speed to situation

- Pass to set up teammate for next action ( top foot, away from defender, ball to hit first time) (pass with a message)

- Communication

- Skip lines, play the way you face to player with vision, find the 3rd man option

- Look for deepest option when you win the ball (THEY to WE)

THEY:

- Make it small (proper distance between players)

- Force opponent to the outside, then shift all players to that half of the field (cone for reference)

- Cut out forward passing lines

- Communication

- Cover/support/balance by teammates

- 1v1 defending (pressure on the ball by the nearest player)

- Win the ball back within 5 seconds (WE to THEY)

Progressions / Variations:

- Start with objective to target 9 on both sides

- Add zone to play 7/9/10/11 into

- Add goal and must target 9 before penetrating

- Add goal and allow attackers/defenders to enter into the box (use offside line)

- Time limit for team to score or win the ball

- Adjust numbers based on aim and reality of your situation. Examples include making the target neutrals a 1/3/9 and taking away the 3's, or making a 10 for each team instead of a neutral 10 etc.

- Adjust system of teams (example, playing against a 1-3-3, 1-3-2-1 etc)

5v5+3 Position Game (9v9)

Organization:

- 5v5+3 (+ optional keeper if you have enough players)

- Both teams trying to target the 9

- 24 wide by 36 long (adjust as needed)

- Black players are neutral

- Ball out starts with 1/3/9

Coaching Points:

Emphasize a few specific coaching points below based on training aim.

WE:

- Make it big, all players with proper starting position

- Create triangles and many lines

- Read game before recieving the ball

- Players playing in relation to each other stay on different horizontal & vertical lines (3, 6, 9 or 5, 11 etc)

- Open up body to field, first touch in relation to next action

- Appropriate ball speed to situation

- Pass to set up teammate for next action ( top foot, away from defender, ball to hit first time) (pass with a message)

- Communication

- Skip lines, play the way you face to player with vision, find the 3rd man option

- Look for deepest option when you win the ball (THEY to WE)

THEY:

- Make it small (proper distance between players)

- Force opponent to the outside, then shift all players to that half of the field (cone for reference)

- Cut out forward passing lines

- Communication

- Cover/support/balance by teammates

- 1v1 defending (pressure on the ball by the nearest player)

- Win the ball back within 5 seconds (WE to THEY)

Progressions / Variations:

- Start with objective to target 9 on both sides

- Add zone to play 7/9/10/11 into

- Add goal and must target 9 before penetrating

- Add goal and allow attackers/defenders to enter into the box (use offside line)

- Time limit for team to score or win the ball

- Adjust numbers based on aim and reality of your situation. Examples include, adding in a designated 3 if working on WE 1-2, taking away the two 10s to focus more on the 2/5/7/11 etc.

- Adjust system of teams (example, playing against a 1-4-3-1)