Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): UEFA C License Session Plan 1- Passing/Switching the Point of Attack

Technique (20 mins)

Set-Up

- Coach in black.

- 44x24 area in red cones.

- 14 players total, 6 in red, 6 in blue and 2 white.

- All red players and one white player will start on the outside of the area with the footballs.

- All blue players and one white player will start on the inside of the area.

- Players inside will check to a player with a ball, they will receive a pass, control, turn and dribble. Once they have found someone new without a ball on the outside, they will play them the ball.

- After completing the pass, they will find someone new who has a ball and restart the process.

- After 1 minute, switch inside players with outside players.

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Progression: When you receive a pass, you must find an open player on the opposite side to play the ball to. 

Progression: Players will be asked to play with their weak foot only.

Progression: Players will be asked to play with the outside of their foot when passing the ball.

Progression: Players will look to play longer passes to challenge themselves.

Regression: Players will play shorter passes.

Regression: Players will play with their dominant foot and work on striking the ball with the inside of the foot.

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

- Pick your head up to find space to attack into. Also, can we find a teammate to pass to.

- Communication, eye contact. Let's make sure we are playing the ball to the appropriate player, and they are aware. 

- Can we get the pass to our partners foot?

- Strike through the ball and make sure we have appropriate pace when passing to our partner.

- Depending on the type of pass, where are we striking the ball to achieve the pass we want? (Inside, Outside, Laces).

- Plant foot is pointed in the direction that we want to play the ball to help with accuracy.

Small Sided Game (30 mins)

Set-Up

- Coach in black. On the length of the field and moving to view players switching the point of attack.

- 60x44 yard area in red cones. 60x5 yellow cone zone on both sides of the red cones.

- 14 players total, 6 in red, 6 in blue and 2 white.

- All footballs will be next to the goals as the restarts will begin with the goalkeepers of the team that has possession.

- Red and blue players will be inside the designated red coned area.

- White players will be on the outside as targets for switching the point of attack.

- Blue and red will play in possession as normal, they will look to play to one target player, then received and play to the other target player. If they successfully switch the point of attack, and score a goal, the goal will be worth 3 points. All other goals without switching the point of attack will be worth 1. 

- Players in white on the outside zone cannot be challenged on the ball.

- Players on the outside will have 3 touch maximum. 

- Play will go for 3 minutes.

- Switch outside players as necessary.

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Progression: Goals must come from crosses or a pass from an outside player.

Progression: Two touch for all central players.

Progression: Tighten space in which the central players can play in, but keep the target players wide to simulate the switching of play.

Progression: Outside players can be challenged in 1v1 situation only.

Regression: Make the area larger for the central players.

Regression: Outside players have unlimited touches.

Regression: Take away 1 player from each team and add in 2 neutrals to allow central players more options when possessing the ball.

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

- When an outside player has the ball, can we get into the box and make runs to create chances.

- Can we switch the point of attack quickly to keep the defense off balance.

- After passing, can you find space to support into that allows the attacker with the ball to play to you.

- Pick your head up to find space to attack into. Also, can we find a teammate to pass to.

- Communication, eye contact. Let's make sure we are playing the ball to the appropriate player, and they are aware.

- Can we get the pass to our partners foot?

- Strike through the ball and make sure we have appropriate pace when passing to our partner.

- Depending on the type of pass, where are we striking the ball to achieve the pass we want? (Inside, Outside, Laces).

- Plant foot is pointed in the direction that we want to play the ball to help with accuracy.