Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Pressure, Cover & Balance - 6.03.14

Ball Mastery (20 mins)

Practice Organisation

*Set up channels roughly 10x3yds.

*Players set up as illustrated.

*Players work in 2 groups, dribbling the ball towards the end line, making as many touches as possible on the ball.

Learning Objectives

1. To improve mastery of feints.

2. Timing of feints

3. Body shape/desguise.

4. Over ball for balance, low/quick step to side.

5. Part of foot used - inside/outside/sole.

6. Perform turns, such as Inside & outside, drag back, Cruyff, Maradona`s, etc...

4v1 (+2) (20 mins)

Learning Objectives

4 x ( 5x5) squares. 4 players on the out side with two middle men and one defender.

PLayers play 4 v 1 in one of the squares. After 3 passes one of the outside men only can switch the ball to another square.

The outside players move along the outside to support that square. The two in the middle move to the other square to join in plus the defender. If the defender wins the ball then he swaps with the player that gave it away.

Progressions:

1. Add another defender who positions himself on the cross in the middle. As the ball is transferred to another square, a new defender presses the ball and the other defender acts as cover.

2. The player who switches the ball, joins in and moves inside the square. One of the inside players then moves to the outside. This rotation puts an increased emphasis on decision making and awareness.

6v6 Game (30 mins)

Practice Organisation:

*6v6 free play.

*Looking at pressure, cover & balance.