Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): (YDP) Exploiting space in midfield 2

(YDP) Exploiting space in midfield 2

Practice organisation

• Area 60x40yds, divided into thirds with central third divided in half

& appropriate size goals at each end, as illustrated.

• 16 players (incl. 2 GK’s), organised in two groups of 8, 2 balls.

• Practice starts with: 3v2 in each end third, plus 2 attacking MF

players for each team in each of two central safe zones, who remain

in their own half.

• MF’s can only provide one touch passes into A’s, through the screen

of their MF opponents.

• Objective of game is to pass through central zones

into A’s who look to link-up play & enter into goal scoring situations

Detail

• Realistic defending in challenge areas.

• Communication between A’s & MF’s essential through recognising

signals & body shape.

• Encourage clever & inventive individual & combination plays by A’s.

• Range of passing skills (which may be disguised) to supply A’s.

• Simple progression for this practice is:

- When receivers are allowed to use 2 touches, D’s may press in

safe zones after opponents’ first touch.

Key coaching points

• Challenges for players include:

- Quick play to open-up forward passing opportunities to A’s.

- A’s timing their movement.

- Combination & support play from front & behind in attacking areas.

- Receiving, passing, turning, dribbling & shooting skills.

- Shielding, passing & turning skills.

- Changing tempo of attacks.

- Playing in between opponents.

- Recognising & exploiting space in front & to side of D’s.

U12 – The player should be able to complete the Learning outcomes in 4v4 functional practices.

U13 – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes during under loaded functional practices

U14 – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes during under loaded functional practice and SSG

U15/16 – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes during under loaded functional practices and 11 v 11 games.