Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Principle Based Training Session 4- Attacking the Assist Zone

General practice 20 min

Organisation

15 + 2 GK

3x teams of 4, with 3 neutral players (playing for in-possession team)

4 players (in green), positioned as high and wide FBs/ Wide players

Area size

Possession box 35x35 

Overall size- box to box

Block timings

2 min work: 60 sec recovery whilst changing teams.

Explanation

- Restarts into possession box.

- After a team of 4 make 8 passes, they play into one of the green wide players, who dribbles at the mannequin, before sliding a pass into the assist zone (highlighted in yellow). 

- As this is developing, someone from the same team, makes a run into this shaded area, to play a 1st time cutback pass, to an advancing teammate, making a run into the box, for a 1st time finish.

- As soon as the attack finishes, a new ball is played into the possession box, with an emphasis on the recovery of the two players outside of the possession box. If the GK catches the shot, they can play this into the possession box.

Coaching points

- Team structure and movement to make the 8 passes

- Pass appreciation into wide player- back foot and correct ball speed

- Wide player- first touch towards mannequin, dribbling towards the inside shoulder. Pass appreciation of diagonal pass into the assist zone.

- Timed and angled run, arriving in the assist zone at the same time as the ball, looking towards goal.

- Pass appreciation of cut back, away from GKs space

- Timing and angle of run to finish from the cut back

Progressions/ Regressions

- Stipulate amount of touches within possession box

- Remove 1st time cut back and finish

- Manage countdown, once ball transferred into wide area- increase speed of attack

- Defending team releases one player, to track runner for finish

- Opposite wide player can attack the back post, to increase decision making of wide player crossing the ball