Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): B license: Attacking from zones 3-4 using the flanks

Warm-up: Team Rondo vs. 3 (10min)

Organization: 

- Team spreads out around the circle at arms length apart

- 3 defenders in the middle

- 2 touch max keep away from defenders

- Cannot pass to either player directly next to you

- If player A makes a mistake or loses the ball, players A, B, and C switch places with the 3 defenders

- Keep circle tight

Progression - 1 touch max

Analytical (15min)

Set-up:

- 1/2 field, pinnies, balls, cones

- mark off 2 flank areas

- divide 1/2 field into zones 3 and 4 with cones

- 14 players

Organization:

- 4v3 in central area

- blue team will have a 2v1 advantage on the flanks

- blue team must make 3 passes before the ball can be passed to a flank player

- blue team cannot attempt to score until zone 4 is penetrated on the flanks by dribbling or with a pass

- if red team wins the ball they get 1 point for dribbling across the center line

Coaching points:

- Challenge red team to utilize the attacking principles penetration, support, width/depth, mobility, and creativity/improvisation to quickly penetrate the blue team defense and progress the ball into zone 4 on the flank

- movement on and off the ball to create space for teammates

- quick ball movement to move defenders

- quality of pass (pace, timing, weight)

- Verbal and visual cues

- good first touch

- draw defender away to create space then check back in and show for the ball

- flank players should always be ready to receive the ball from central area

- does the wide player have support from the FB, CM or Striker

- once zone 4 is penetrated, what types of crosses can we use (far post chip, near post, early low cross, cut back)

Progression:

- blue team must penetrate zone 4 in 10-15 seconds

Cool-down (10min)

- Cool-down and reflection

- debrief: ask players for feedback first, then give coaches feedback on how things went with the session