Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Session 7

Technical (15 mins)

All the players are bibbed and warmed up ready for the session (5 minutes)

10-15 minutes 

• Technical passing practice that develops player combinations to finish.
• 3 players working in each direction, the first pass is played by the goalkeeper into player 1, who sets player 2, who then plays a direct pass into player 3 who is positioned in an advanced area of the pitch. Player 3 will then set player 1 who looks to finish in 2 touches, each player follows their pass ready for the next sequence, with the finishing player joining the opposite group.

Organisation

• 30 x 30 yard area or half pitch.
• 8 x Players.
• 1 player on each positioned cone.
•  Finishing player joins the opposite group.

Coaching Points  

• Focus on the weight of the pass, timing of movement and developing player creativity.

• Progress to use a single ball with all 6 players involved in each passing combination, alternating the direction after each attack.

SSG (30 mins)

25-30 minutes 

Key Factors   

• The defending team is restricted to their own half, with 2 players in each area, encouraging forward players to drop in to create an overload deep to build play in a 5 v 2.

Organisation

• 30 x 30 yard area split into quarters
• 4 v 4 outfield players plus GK's.

Coaching Points  

• Encourage first touch to play forward.
• Passing and finishing combinations.
• Support team members to be available to receive a ball to keep possession and progress with the attack.
• Have the GK to release the ball quickly for a counter attack opportunity. Emphasise for the defending team to react and recover when attack has broken down or a goal scored. 

Progression 1 

• Allow a single opposition defender to drop into support the defending phase creating a 4 v 3 situation

Progression 2 

• Finally we can allow free play and use time as a constraint to develop speedy support in the attacking phase..