Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): ACM Summer camp - Breaking lines

Skill Practice 1

Set up: Create an 15m x 15m playing area as shown in the diagram, with a smaller 8m x 8m area within the larger playing area. Two players to start inside the smaller playing area, with four players positioned outside on each side of the smaller playing area.  

3 footballs to be placed behind each player of the outside, to allow a fast restart if the ball goes out of play.

Timings: 5 x 2 minute blocks, with a 60 second rest in-between. 

To Start: the objective of the game is for the four players on the outside of the area to play through, around or over the line to score points. The two defensive players in the middle area attempt to prevent the players playing through, around or over and win the ball.

If any player in the middle area wins the ball, they quickly restart play by passing to an outside player and swapping with they player that lost possession transitioning into the middle area. 

Coach to swap the players in middle after each block.

Target: If players can play through the line (to a player opposite, ball on the floor) they gain 3 points, over the line (to a player opposite, ball in the air) they gain 2 points. If they play around the line (to a player on either side) they gain a point. 

Challenges: Challenge players to think about how they can create opportunities to play through the line. How many times can they play through the line?

Conditions: The players in the middle cannot leave the central area, they can can only press up to the lines. Players on the outside cannot enter the playing area.  

Progressions:  

Limit the IP players touches on the ball to 2 or 3 touches max.

To challenge the players further, adapt the practice so that players only receive a point (1 point) if they play through the line. Playing over or around is now a way to maintain possession of the ball.

To challenge further, specify that a point is only scored if the ball is played in-between the two defensive players.

Regressions: Allow more touches on the ball, or remove a touch limit.

Regress the practice to a 5 vs 1, this should provide more success to play the ball around, through and over the line. May need to reduce the area size if too much success for IP team.

Coaching points: 

Block 1: Playing around the line - Players should look to play around the line quickly to maintain possession of the ball and manipulate the defenders players positioning, especially useful when being pressed up to the line.

Open body shape when receiving the ball. Back foot/ front foot receive for 1 and 2 touch play. Tempo of play, moving the ball quickly to create opportunities.

Individual + 1: Off the ball movement - receivers need to move left or right quickly to create passing lane to play around. Individual looking to pass when central pass blocked.

Block 2: Playing over the line: Players should look to play over the line when not pressed by defensive players on the line, but no option to play though the line.  

Block 3: Playing through the line: Players should play through the line when the defenders are out of position and the gap appears.

Consider using a bounce pass using 1/2 touch to manipulate defenders position quickly.

Individual + 1: Scanning ahead of time to see if receiver free, look for split pass. Receiver quick movement off the ball to position to receive the ball through the line, consider defenders movement around the area.

Block 4: Ball speed/ Weight of pass. Consider ball speed when playing through, around or over. More speed when playing through the line, less speed when playing around or over. 

Always scanning for the next pass, opportunities to play through. 

Techniques for playing through or over (driven, lofted pass).

Specific Practice

Set up:  

Half pitch, one 11 - a - side goal, and add two mini goals at the other end, positioned as shown.

Using cones, mark out a central areas as shown in the digram, as wide as the 18 yard line, length about 40 yards.

Taper in the pitch slightly for emphasis on breaking lines/ defending lines.  

Attacking team aim to score past the goalkeeper, defending team if they win the ball aim to score in either mini net.

Challenges:

Challenge players decision making to think about when and how to play through, around or over to break lines.

Conditions:

When ball goes out of play, always to restart with attacking team.

Progression: 

Progress into a small sided game (simulate game rules including goal kicks and throw ins - still no corners).

Coaching points: 

Play through, Play around, Play over

Screen 5

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Challenges, Conditions or Targets: