Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): U14 Session 14: Function & SSG - Midfield Combination Play

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Paul Inns

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Name:	Paul Inns
City:	Newtown
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Drill Function SSG: Playing with a Midfield Diamond

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Function - Attacking with midfield diamond

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Function - Attacking with midfield diamond (10 mins)

Organisation

Split players into two teams - Red (9 players) and Blue (5 players).

Use half a pitch and create a midfield area 30x30yds.

Set up a line of yellow cones running from each edge of the penalty area to the half way line.

Place two red players - one each side of the cones - to act as LB/RB

Two red players act as CB's - serving the ball into the deep lying MF player.

Place 4 Red players - No.7,11,8 & 10 - into the area to play in a Diamond.

Place 2 Blue Players to act as MF players in shaded area;

Instruct the players in the midfield area that they must remain in the mkidfield area until such time as the ball is played out of the midfiled area, whereupon all players can play anywhere at will.

Place 2 blue players conditioned to defend the penalty area, and not to enter the midfield area; Place Blue GK in goal.

Instructions

- Play starts with either Red Server who play the ball into Red No.8

- Red Diamond 4 have to keep the ball away from the 2 blue defenders within the area.

- Once the red team have made 5 passes they can play ball out wide to a red full back to cross the ball into the penalty area.

- Note overleaf for attacking positions.

Following an attack, players then return to starting positions and play commences with red server.

If Blue team obtain possession, can they look to score by passing the ball out of the area to either Red Server within 5 seconds?

Technical/tactical points

- Keep correct distances between each other and limit the amount of touches per person in order to shift the ball around quickly - max two touches.

- Penetrative passes between the two blue defenders is likely to open up play allowing the ball to be shifted around more easily

- Keep the ball on the ground and when receiving the ball, open the body up so that there are options to pass, keeping your head up at all times.

- Good communication.

- Movement - can Red No.11 and Red No.7 play wide to occupy the blue defenders in order to allow the Red No.10 to receive the ball; 'go to show' or 'show to go'; Can the MF switch with each other or the lRed No.10; Can the Red No.11 or Red No.7 come into the centre to receive the ball and create new angles.

- Avoid any 2 Red MF players in the diamond in a staight line - their positions must always be staggered.

- If Red No.8 progresses through the centre of the area then a wide MF player must take his place so that the diamond is constantly maintained.

Progression

Allow the ball to be played not only to the LB/RB but also via the Red No.9. Red No.9, if he receives the ball will have options - lay off to Red No.10 or LB/RB or go for goal himself.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Attacking Positions

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Attacking Positions (10 mins)

Attacking Positions

LB has received the ball from MF and dribbles to the goal line in order to cross the ball.

Effect Red No.9: Red No.9 must take up an attacking position between the penalty spot and the edge of the 6 yard line. Communication between the Red No.9 and the supporting Red No.10 is key. Do they stagger their runs? Does one take the near post? If so, where should the other one go? Can they switch or make angled runs so as to make it more difficult for the defenders?

Effect Red No.10: Red No. 10 must support the Red No.9. Communication will be key. Timing of runs will be essential.

Effect Red No.8: Coming from a deep position, the Red No.8 s unlikely to be able to make up sufficient ground to support the attack in the penalty area. Therefore, can he cover the space 10 -20 yards from the edge of the penalty area. Adopting a position to be able to support the attack if the balls falls near him, or to defend in the event of a counter attack.

Effect Red No.11: LMF can take up a position for a pull back - provide balance for the team - especially important in the event of a counter attack.

Effect RMF: Provide support for the attcak by covering from the far post - looking to make a blind run to attackk the ball or pick the ball up if it goes long.

Effect RB: RB should take up a narrow position - providing defensive cover in the event of a counter attack - should a counter attack be undertaken, just outside the line of the far post - covering the space in front to support the attcak should the ball be partially cleared, but also in a position to defend should the need arise.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Rotation

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Rotation (10 mins)

Rotation

The Red No.7 and Red No.11 initiate rotation. If the Red No.7 drops (as above), this will drag the Blue MF, which in turn will create space for the Red No.10 to be able to receive the ball. Red No.8 will pass to him. We need to retain our diamond formation. Red No. 10will rotate to a position on the right of the area, Red No.11 will rotate to a position at the top of the area, and Red No.8 will rotate to a position on the left of the area as soon as he makes the pass. This will force the Blue team to make decisions about whether they press the individual or space. Red team should always have an overload. Communication, teamwork and vision from the Red No.11 and Red no.7 are essential.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): SSG - Midfield diamond

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SSG - Midfield diamond (20 mins)

Small Sided Game - Midfield diamond

Organisation

Create a pitch 20 yards over half way line to opposite goal line. Full width. Cone off wide areas near Red goal due to lack of wide players and encourage Red LB and Red RB to support Midfield Diamond.

Create an area 30x30yds to assist players positions.

Split players into 2 teams - 9 Red v 8 Blue.

Red team to be coached.

Red team to play 2-2-3-1

Blue team to play 3-3-1

Aim

- Emphasis on combination play in the shaded area and encourage LB/RB to push on.

- Play commences with Red GK where possible. Can the Red GK play the ball out to LB/RB or Red No.6?

- The Red LMF/RMF players of the diamond should tuck in in order to overload the centre and encourage an attack in numbers. This may also draw the wingers of the opposition to come inside, creating space out wide for the attacking FB's.

- If Blue team obtain possession, can they score within 10 secs.

Red 8, 9, 10 & 11 should use the shaded area as a guide, but are at liberty to leave the area.

Effect the Opposition

1 of the 3 Blue MF must remain within the shaded area at all times unless they are in possession.

Blue defenders cannot enter shaded area.

Offside rule applies.

Conditions

Red team must play the ball through the shaded area before they can score - either by passing ball out to wide FB's and a cross being made into the box - or playing directly through the shaded area to Red 9 or dribbling /passing the ball out of the shaded area.

Red team to reset within shaded area when red GK is looking to play out.

Effect GK

Can the GK play the ball out to either the Red No.6 or LB or RB? Alternatively, can he play the ball directly to the Red No.8?

Effect Defensive Unit (LB/RB/No.6)

Can the Defensive unit split to create options for the ball to be played out from the GK? LB/RB - high and wide. Red No.6 split to one edge of the area or the other - allowing Red No.8 to take up a position on the alternate side.

If the LB/RB/Red No.6 receive the ball, can they look to play the ball into the shaded area via or boujnce the ball off Red No. 7 or 11?

If the pass isn't on, can they retain possession and play back through the GK and out the other side?

Effect Red No.8

When the GK has possession, can the DMF retain a position within the shaded area but still find space to receive the ball from the GK? Trigger? Take his mark from the Red No.6- if the Red No.6 goes to the right edge of the area, can the Red No.8 take a left sided position? Create an angle for the pass - never in a straight line with the Red No.8

If the ball is played to the LB/RB from the GK, can the Wide MF player receive the ball? If not, how can space be generated for the DMF to receive the ball instead? Rotation? Switch with wide MF? 'Go to show' or 'show to go'?

How will the DMF receive the ball? Front foot - checking shoulder and scanning so he knows where the blue players, and the red players, are located.

Upon receiving the ball can the Red No.8 pass the ball via the other MF players? Or back to the LB/RB? or run with the ball forward if space allows? Or pass directly to Red No.9 if the space allows?

If possession is lost, can the Red No.6 & Red No.8 protect the area in front of the goal? Threaten the pass to the lone blue striker?

Effect the Red No.7, 10 & 11 players

Can they initiate rotation? drag and stretch the oppostion? create space to play in? 'show to go' or 'go to show'? If the play switches wide to RB/LB, can the nearest MF support the LB/RB? Can the other MF player shuffle over to remain compact?

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What if Possession is lost? (10 mins)

What if Possession is lost after the ball is crossed?
In the above example, the red team have lost possession after having attacked down the left hand side and crossing the ball in. The blue GK has spotted a counter attack and has played the ball behind the LMF.
Quick transition into defensive formation is important.
Need to use recovery runs if necessary.
Effect LMF: As soon as possession is lost, LMF should take up a defensive position - goalside and ballside. Can he be first to the ball? If not, can he track back with the Red RMF? Delay to enable his own players time to make their recovery runs.
Effect CB: Red CB must slide over to provide balance and support.
Effect RB: Red RB will slide over to provide cover against blue AMF.
Effect DMF: Must drop back with a view to threatening any pass to Blue MF and proiding further cover for LMF.
Effect LB: LB must make a determined effort to make a recovery run to regain his defensive position.
Effect RMF: RMF must make a determined effort to make a recovery run. Where depends on the location of the ball and the positioning of his own, and the opponents players.
Effect lone striker: Lone Striker will try to occupy Blue CB's - playing as high as possible in order to keep them from joining the attack.

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