Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Attacking3.Positive Forward Play (Start Time: 2014-03-31 19:30:00)

Playing through the thirds (20 mins)

DEFENDING AS A UNIT (defenders/midfielders/strikers)

CONDITIONS:

All players to play in their respective zones, apart from 1 defender who can press. Each unit to defend continously for 4 minutes.

YELLOWS are defending 1st, AIM is to stop the ball being transferred from one end zone to the other.

COACHING POINTS

Keep tight distances between each other

Be compact/narrow and aim to force play one way.

Travel in relation to the ball, eg; When ball is switched horizontally, furthest man from the ball has to work hard to narrow off to stop ball being played between the lines.

Clear communication

Coaching Points:

Technical - 1st defender 1 v 1 defending skills - Body shape, angle of approach - footwork - delay

2nd defender support and screening - 3rd + 4th defender support and balance.

Tactical - Delay - Patience - Positional awareness - Changes of roles

Physical - Speed - High work rate - Strength on the ball

Psycological - Determination - Confidence - Take Responsibility

Social - Communication - Encourage other team mates

1v1 - 2V1 Overload in wide areas (25 mins)

Session Organisation

Area 60x40yds, divided into 3 channels of equal width marked the

length of pitch & appropriate size goals at each end, as illustrated.

• 16 players (incl. 2 GK’s), arranged 8v8, as shown in the diagram.

• Supply of balls by each goal.

• Off-side lines are marked with cones at the side of pitch.

• Practice starts with the ball being rolled-out by GK to the attacking team.

• The team in possession look to build play through good ball retention

& controlled possession, with the objective of scoring a goal.

• Defending team look to counter-attack on gaining possession.

• Open play continues until the ball goes dead, the practice then

recommences with initial set-up arrangements.

Detail

Challenge: Try to use spreading-out into wide areas as an

opportunity to exploit space created in central areas to attack goal.

• Quick passing, to eliminate pressure.

• Drawing D’s to create weak side to switch play.

• Supporting play from behind to ensure defensive safety from

potential counter-attack & provide outlet passing option.

• Recognition of when to slow-down play to secure possession.

• Simple progressions for this practice are:

- Mark 5yd wide channels along each touch line that wingers/fullbacks

can attack through, unopposed.

- Switch play & early crossing into central areas with attackers

arriving quickly into space.

Four Corners

Technical.

Work on Receiving skills, dealing with the ball under pressure, passing and keeping possession by using the ball effectively.

Tactical

Individual rolls and resposibilities both defensively and offensively

Physical

Develop. Aerobic and Anaerobic capabilities of players. Game specific work

.

Psychological.

Test the ability to work under pressure, scenario

Social

Encourage your team mates