Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): YDP P4_S2 Counter Attacking in the final 3rd

Activation (15 mins)

Session Objective:

- To understand when it is possible to transition into a counter attack from the defensive third and create attacking overloads with intelligent positioning

Learning Outcomes:

- How to effectively use attacking principles to create an effective counter attack

- Individual roles and options in a counter attack

Activation:

- Multi-directional movement (Low intensity) - throw and catch (4 footballs)

Dynamic stretches:

- Lunges

- Open the gate

- Close the gate

- Sweepers

Plyometric Movements:

- Skips

- Strides

- Bounding Jumps

- Multi-directional movement (Moderate instensity) - pass and move (4 footballs)

Balance & Co-ordination - Alternate leg bounding jumps to volley in pairs (one feeder - 2 x 10 each)

Strength - 1v1 ball retention in pairs, playing with one area for the whole group (5 x 20 seconds w/ 10 seconds rest)

Speed & Agility - Race to finish in pairs - 5 yard forwards and backwards V-sprint then race - ball fed from coach, race to goal - 30 yards starting point (rotate forward and backward to left and right) (2 x 2 minutes)

Whole - 8v8 Game (30 mins)

8v8 Game

Each team plays a 1-2-4-1 formation

Individual roles when regaining possession within defensive half. (Knowledge for coach, not fed to players)

#9 - stay high to hold opposition defenders back, creating space to move forward. Show intelligent movement or positioning to receive an early forward pass to bring forward moving players into the game or make a run through on goal.

#7 & #11 - react quickly to provide wide options with quick, forward moving momentum to receive passes in front at speed, exploiting space out wide and drawing defenders from central areas to disorganise the opposition.

#4 & #8 - provide quick central support for the striker and the wide players, should they need to set the ball to allow #7, #11 & #9 to make forward movements at speed, beating players off the ball. Also, showing a willingness off the ball to make runs beyond #9 if they are not needed in supporting positions.

#5 & #6 - provide compact defence in front of goal and prepare to release the ball into midfiled quickly, identifying possible space in front of players to allow them to move out at speed. With sufficient space, a pass may be played directly into #9.

#1 - provide emergency defending cover and prepare use of varied distribution techniques to recognise counter attacking opportunities and build an attack at speed upon transition when possible.

Team Challenge - Can you penetrate the opposition's midfield line in your own half?

Unit Challenges:

Primary Unit (#9, #7 & #11)

Can you create an overload, 3v2, in the opposition half, with possession of the ball, before the opponents can recover?

Secondary Unit (#4 & #8)

Can you support the primary unit and find ways to penetrate the opposition when receiving?

Tertiary Unit (#1, #5 & #6)

Can you recognise opportunities to release the ball into the primary unit immediately after regaining possession?

Coach the red team.

Blue team's instruction:

- Can the wide players get crosses into the box high up the pitch?

- Can midfielders make attacking movements into the box? - late runs, dribbles, run beyond striker.

- Can defenders penetrate midfield with passes and dribbles?

Rotate team roles and coaching after 13 minutes. (50:50 split)

At the end of each game the players have 2 minutes to discuss what they think the role of each player is in a successful counter attack. This will be discussed and then reviewed prior to the second whole to see if they can implement it.

Whole - 8v8 Game (30 mins)

Same setup and game instructions as first whole (8v8 game).

Progression from first Whole (8v8 Game):

- Provide individual players with challenges based on their individual needs and recognition of their strengths and areas for improvement fom the first 8v8 game and part activity.

- Consideration of positional changes or formation changes based on the outcomes of the first 8v8 game.