Sesión de Fútbol (Sesiones de Academia): Cushioned Pass - Final Third

Technical (15 mins)

Drill Explanation

To start I will evenly split my players onto the 4 white cones (not all players shown in picture).

A yellow player will run into the box and receive a pass from the red player with the ball. The Receiving yellow player will then attempt a first time cushion pass into the path of the red player who has followed his orginal pass. The red player will then pass to his opposite red player and join the back of tat line whilst the yellow player joins the back of the opposite yellow line. This is then repeated with the opposite lines.

After around 90 seconds to 2 minutes the teams will alternate so reds will be receiving the ball in the box.

Observations

I must first ensure I have fully explained the drill to the players and shown a good demonstration of the drill - If i feel not all players have fully grasped the concept of the drill I will ask the players to start at half pace this should minimise mistakes and make players more comfortable. Once we are playing live I will position myself near the corner where the spare balls are being stored. This will allow me to observe all players during the drill and will be close enough to make a coaching intervention where needed, I will also be able to replace any wayward balls quickly maximising ball rolling time. As I am running this session alone the most obvious intervention available to me is stopping the whole group once diagnosing poor practice - i must then re-create the poor practice and give an example of the correct technique to the whole group before having a rehersal from the players. I must however keep in mind that not all players will react well to having their poor technique highlighted infront of the entire group - in this scenario I will use breaks between drills to speak to the individual players on a one to one basis.

Adaptations

I must ensure that I am ready to make progressions / regressions in order to keep the drill challenging and achievable for all players.

Progressions - Make the box smaller, ask players to use more power on initial pass, certain players asked to use weaker foot.

Regressions - Make the box bigger, allow a touch before cushioned pass, less power on initial pass.

Mechanics

The mechanics I will be focusing on are firm ankle, non kicking foot alongside the ball in a comfortable position and striking the centre of the ball. There are other important mechanics such as looking at the target and having your eye on the ball however I feel that the Under 15 group this session is designed are comfortable with this and would be covering old ground. If i feel however that they have mastered the agreed mechanics I can touch on how a first time cushion pass can also rely on mechanics often associated with control such as relaxing on impact.

Drill Length - 10 - 15 minutes

Animation 3 (30 mins)

Drill Description

I have removed all cones other than 2 at each end of the pitch which designate a zone in front of each goal. I have placed all balls evenly in the 2 goals to allow a quick restart when the ball goes off the pitch.

Only one outfield player from each team can enter the zone in front of the goal - a striker and a defender. This player should be rotated through out the game. Each team will also have a goalkeeper.

The game is designed to score points in a number of ways;

A pass into strikers feet and a return cushion pass - 1 point

A pass into strikers feet and a return cushion pass leading to a goal - 2 points

A normal goal scored from open play - 1 point

This point scoring system puts an emphasis on the skills and techniques we have been working on throughout the session as well as keeping an element of realism in the game with the normal goals being allowed - this should ensure that teams are not just focusing on defending the opposion striker and will keep the goalkeepers more engaged.

Progressions / Regressions

During the small sided game I must consider the conditions of the game - in this instance I will focus on the pitch size. If i feel that players are able to find space easily I will decrease the playing area in order to make this more challenging - however I must also bare in mind the focus of the session has been the cushion pass of an attacking player so it should not be too challenging that the players struggle to get the ball into their striker. If the strikers are struggling to find space against their defenders I will consider increasing the size of the zone infront of the goals.

I must also consider individual challenges during this game - this could include asking a striker who is having success with the cushioned pass to try and use his weaker foot, or giving a player feeding the ball into the striker a maximum number of touches or a time limit in order to encourage quick forward play and positive risk taking.

Drill Length - 25 - 30 minutes