Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): Attacking Principals - Penetration through central Areas.

Warm Up (15 mins)

Player will play 1 minute rondos, focusing on penetration of the central 3 defenders directly to outside player or through central supporting player. At the end of the minute, players will perform dynamic or static strtches for 30 seconds. Defenders swap over, 10 rounds.

Positioning - Penetration/Compact (20 mins)

Positioning Exercise Penetrate through, around (width/depth) or over (mobility) (vs Pressure, Depth & Concentration)

17 players (6 v 6) + 3 + 2GK



3 v 3 + 3 in central yellow zone.

• Players to focus on finding open ball to penetrate the midfield 3 by dribbling past yellow zone or playing into striker. (penetration)
• Once yellow line broken or striker receives ball, play open up to a 7 v 6 to goal, approach must be between red end zone and not around it. Wide neutral players can be freed into crossing and cut back zone once red zone broken (width & mobility)

• Can players without the ball in yellow zone use support (drop in line) and mobility (go beyond) to disrupt the defence and assist in creating an open ball to progress.
• Once yellow zone broken, can players use improvisation to create open ball opporuntites to score a goal.
• Crossing on the ground is preferred from the cut back zone.
• First time finish counts as 2.

Player tasks

• During build up in central zone, can the strikers remain in line and on the outside (blindside) of the defender
• If ball played into strikers feet from yellow zone (back to goal) screen and protect (penetration) until a supporting pass becomes available.
• Can a switch of play be recognised and taken advantage of, for the far side neutral player once yellow zone broken (mobility).
• In 1v1 final third, have the confidence to dribble past the player.

Cues

• Can players recognise closed ball and support
• Can players on ball use support as decoy to penetrate (sliding doors)
• Can players get their head up/eyes up to identify switch of play
• Can players identify right opporunity to improvise