Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Breaking Lines / Possession Session for 2nd Years 07/10/24

Breaking Lines Technical Practice

Objective: Learn to break a line effectively by playing Around and Through. Whilst also introducing the use of a Pivot to help break a line. FIFA (2021) define breaking lines as 'A player progresses the ball and breaks one or more unit lines of the opposition team shape'.

Organisation:

• 12 Players (4+4+4)
• Area = 32 x 20 / 42 x 20
• 20 Minute session

Equipment:

• Bibs 
  
• Balls
• Cones
• Flat Markers
• Mini goals 

Explanation:

The red and blue teams cannot leave their areas, the aim is for them to transfer the ball from their team to the team on the other side (Red to Blue and vice versa), 4 passes must be made before transferring the ball. The aim of the yellow team is to try and win the ball back and score in the mini goals at either end, only 2 yellow players can press at a time the other 2 players can screen the pass. If they win the ball while screening they can play forwards to their team to try and score within a mini goal.

3 Blocks of 2 Minutes 30 seconds 

Progression/Regressions:

By developing challenges and progressions in the session, a coach will be making the session more enjoyable and challenging for the players and assist in their learning and development (Trusson, 2014).

• When the ball is in one of the end zones, someone from the opposite end zone can drop into the middle zone to help transfer the ball (acting as a pivot).
  
• More/Less passes before a switch.

Challenges, Conditions and Targets:

• Condition - Must make 4 passes with your team before a transfer. Using “conditions” in football training sessions is a very effective way of making sure that players, without impacting on their enjoyment or the realism of playing, are forced to focus and work on specific technical or physical aspects of the game (Trusson, 2016)
• Challenge - Can the yellows score within 5 seconds of winning the ball/can they use a pivot to help transfer the ball (Bonus points)
• Target - Can both teams transfer the ball twice before the defenders intercept the ball

Coaching Points:

• Speed of the passes to move defenders out of position and open up passing lanes
  
• Shape - don't crowd together, spread out to make it harder for the defenders to press (dish/diamond shape)
• Receive on the back-foot to speed up passes and be able to see the pitch clearer
• If possible play on the one touch
• Weight of pass - because its a small area don't smash it to teammates, also if you can transfer the ball deliver smooth soft bounces so they can transfer first time
• Instruct the pivot to use his movement to drag defenders away and create space to be able to play around 
• If the pivot can receive the ball, tell them to receive it on the Blackfoot for a quick transfer. If not then suggest a bounce to draw in defenders and create space 
• Encourage players to play off the defenders shoulders to break lines quickly
• Hit the middle of the ball to keep it a smooth pass along the floor 
• If a breaking line pass cannot be made recycle the ball and patiently create an opportunity
• Encourage drop in players to pull defenders out wide to create large gaps in between defenders for a breaking line pass

Interventions:

• Bullseyes

• Walkthrough

• Concurrent feedback
• Freeze