Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Task - Switch of play

Screen 2 (25 mins)

Specific Practice: Switching Play - 24 minutes

I will be working with the attacking team in a formation of a 1-3-3. While the defending team will be set up in a 4-2-1 with a goalkeeper. I will be trying to make the attacking team wide for the wingers to often have space and to more space for the midfielders to find late runs from deep to cause confusion for the defenders.

Attacking side is to score in the big goal but they need to play into a wide area before scoring (2 goals if they play it into both wide areas and score) while the defending team’s will need to score in either mini goal within 10 seconds of gaining possession.

To try and keep the focus on scoring quickly and using aerobic training I will be timing to attacking team and they have to score within 45 seconds. If they don’t score the players will be reset have to start again from the feeder player when both teams are set up.

Goalkeeper and feeder player swap after 12 minutes to have equal playing time. 

Player specific information:

Feeder player - pass the ball in when both attacking and defensive teams are set up

Defensive midfielder - Try to be the first player to get on the ball off the feeder player and focus on playing passes out wide, one defensive midfielder can go forward but the other had to sit and stay in possession - communication is key

Attacking midfielder - Constant running to be an option for wingers and defensive midfielders, running in behind to create overloads and in wide areas to support wingers. On the ball try and create opportunities for attackers

Wingers - Stay wide at all times expect for when crosses are coming in when I will want the opposite winger attacking the box, runs in behind to cause problems, use overloads when can

Striker - Constant running in behind and trying to be an option, try linking play with players in wide areas, runs in channel if needed 

Coaching point:

Let the players play for first 2 minutes

Positioning and different ways of switching play - demo, concurrent - first block 3 minutes

3rd man runs from attacking midfielders - challenge, walkthrough, challenge, drive by, - block 5 minutes 

Crossing the ball and positioning - walkthrough, drive by, fly by - third block 5 minutes

Inside runs in behind from wingers - target, challenge, drive by, fly by, concurrent - fourth block 5 minutes

Let players play with no interventions for last 4 minutes. 

Technical coaching:

I will be trying to make the play high tempo so if slow passes are going in I will coach how to pass the ball quickly and sharply with driven passes with laces. Additionally, I will be trying to encourage that players take the ball on the half turn and with open hips ready to drive at the opposition.

Social corner:

Let players decide on a captain to keep score of the game

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Condition for attackers to score in 45 seconds and defenders to score in the mini goals in 10 seconds

Using challenges and targets throughout to make players do actions for me to step in and intervene. Such as challenging the attacking midfielder to make attacking runs to help the winger. The use this in my 3rd man run block.