Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Youth - Session 1: Building Up Play from the Low Zone to the High Zone (1) (Start Time: 2018-02-05 19:00:00)

Function - Possession & Forward Passing in a 3 zone Dynamic Game (15 mins)

Instructions

Create an area 30 x 15 yards and divide into 3 equal zones.

Split players into 2 teams - 9 x blue and 6 x red - 15 players in total..

In each zone, place 3 red players and 2 blue players.

Objective

To develop possession in zones and playing forward passes through defensive lines creating an overload in the final third.

Instructions

The aim is for the blue team to keep possession and play passes from one outside zone to the other.

All players must remain in their zones.

If the red team win the ball, the blue team must make a quick transition to defence and the three blue players in that zone must try to win the ball back immediately.

Progressions

1. Introduce point scoring as follows:

Blue team:

8 passes complete = 1 point

Ball goes from one outside zone to the other and back again - 2 points

Red team:

If they retain possession for 6 secs - 1 point

2. Limit red players to one or two touch.

Coaching Points

1. This practice develops the team's ability to keep possession under pressure with limited time and space.

2. Correct body shape and positioning is important to view the options for where the next pass is going.

Function - Passing through the Midfield Line Transition Game (15 mins)

Instructions

Create an area 60 x 30 yards.

Create 3 zones, with the outer two zones 25 yards in length and the middle zone 10 yards.

Divide players into two teams - 12 x red players and 6 x blue players

Place 6 red players in each end zone, where they must remain.

Instructions

Each red team aim to keep ossession, and must first complete 5 passes before trying to pass the ball to the opposite end zone, to score 1 point.

The blue team must always retain any 2 players in the middle zone, who saeek to intercept any pass from one end zone to the other. The remaining 4 players are tasked with pressing the red team in possession in order to try to win the ball.

If the red team successfully pass the ball to the othjer end zone, the 2 blue players in the middle zone plus and 2 other blue players, must run quickly across in order to apply pressure on the ball making it always 4 blue players v 6 red players.

If the red team lose possession in the outside zone, they make a quick transition from attack to defence with a 6v4 advantage.

If the blue team intercept the ball in the middle zone, the 6 white players play against all 6 blue players in a bigger area which includes the end zone where the ball was lost and the middle zone. The two players in the middle zone must remain in the middle zone, but all other players are free to move around the end zone and middle zone. the aim for the red team that lost possession is to regain possession as quickly as possible.

Progressions

1. Limit the red players to 1 or 2 touches.

2. Increase the number of blue players from 6 to 7 and place 3 blue players in the middle zone at all times.

SSG - Passing Through the Midfield Line & Finishing in a 5 Zone Game (30 mins)

Instructions

Split players into two teams 10 x red players and 10 x blue players. 5 x red players play in defensive half v 4 blue players. 4 x red players play in attacking half v 3 blue players; 2 blue players play in middle area. No players are allowed in the central zone other than the two blue players.

Using a full length pitch, create 5 zones as illustrated (3 shaded zones and 2 non shaded - see above).

Objectives

Play commences with red goalkeeper each time.

Red defenders aim is to keep possession under pressure from the 4 blue attackers and then pass the ball to the opposite zone - past the 2 blue players in the central zone who try to intercept forward passes. If the 4 blue attackers gain possession, they try to score as normal and red team seek to regain possession.

If the red team succeed in passing the ball to the opposite zone, we have a 4v3+1 - the 1 is a blue player who runs across from the central zone to assist the 2 blue defenders. The blue defenders are not allowed in the end shaded area until the ball is played into that area.

If any of the 3+1 blue defenders gain possession, they launch an attack in the opposite half against the 5 x red defenders. They must pass the ball into the opposite zone - the 3 +1 are not allowed to cross the central zone.

If the ball is intercepted in the central zone, the ball is returned to the blue keeper at the opposite end and the teams change roles with the blue team building up from the back. The 2 blue players in the central zone move into the red teams low zone and two red players from the opposite side move to the central zone (see overleaf).

Progressions

1. Limit defenders to 2 touches - unlimited for other players.

2. If players in the central zone intercept, allow both players in the central zone to join the attack so as to create a 6v5 overload.

3. If a successful pass is made through the central zone, allow both central zone players to join the defence after 10 seconds, so as to create greater urgency in the attack.

The function starts again with the same obective, but the teams have changed roles. When this happens, there will be 5 blue v 4 red in the first zone, the two middle red players and 4 blue v 3 red in the other zone.