Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Midfield Functional Training 9-23-15

Midfield Combination Warm-up 1 (25 mins)

In Exercise 1, players follow pass.

In Exercise 2, players move from cone 1 to 2 to 3 to 4.

Objective: Improve supporting roles of the midfielder.

Activity: See diagrams above. Movements should be dynamic, short, and quick. Play in the least amount of touches possible depending on ball type.

Coaching Points: Checking shoulders. Supporting angles. Scan the field. Body shape. Timing of checking and supporting runs. Passing weight and accuracy. Know where you are going and doing next. Balls should be angled and proper touch of the ball played into space.

Phase 2 (20 mins)

Objective: Improve supporting roles of the midfielder.

Activity: Orange and Navy are 1v1 in each area. Designate 2 players as CMs. CMs will make it 3v1 in each area depending on who has the ball. Try to make 3-4 passes in each area before playing into a new one. CMs will go support the ball in the new area. If possession is lost, defending play should find a CM to play into a new zone and CMs go play with that color in the new zone. Play rounds of 90 seconds to 2 minutes and rotate MFs. Progress to CMs dribbling into new areas.

Coaching Points: Checking shoulders. Supporting angles. Scan the field. Body shape. Anticipation of ball moving into zone, so we are moving as the ball is being played not when it lands. Passing weight and accuracy.

Guided Discovery Qs: When do I use my first touch to change the area? Read the game- when to play the way you face and when to change POA. How do they develop a feel for the game and cues of when to play somewhere else.