Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): First Touch & Playing Centrally to Invite Pressure and Switch the Play (Start Time: 2025-03-12 05:40:00)

'Escape Room 2' - First Touch and Playing Central 4v4 (Work:Rest 3:1) (15 mins)

Description:
Players are continuing to work on their first touch into space (away from pressure) here but, within a mini game to add more realism and help them apply learned techniques as skills + combine with teammates against an opposition. There is also a central area added (only 1 player from each team can be in here at any time) Both teams can score in either mini goal but must do any of the following things first:
- Play a pass to a teammate between the flat markers twice and take first touch away from defender (defenders can only defend by running through the markers)
- Play through the central zone (in and out) twice (only one defender can press inside this area at a time)
- Play through the flat markers or central zone once each

Measurements:
20M X 25M Rectangle (with Flat Markers in each corner as displayed) 5M X 5M central zone

Interventions:

2 Coaches (use a blend of individual and group intervention to maximise ball rolling time as players need lots of opportunity for success here)
In the first 2-4 mins use group intervention to cover main coaching points e.g. are we looking to play teammates centrally or between markers enough, freeze or highlight when players over crowd or are too stagnant or to provide praise in positive moments. For the remaining 8-11 mins, one coach to observe overall play and 2nd coach to do individual interventions (max.15 seconds) on players technique and adaptation of technique in game.

Playing Centrally to Invite Pressure (Training Game) 8V8 or 9V9 (30 mins)

Description:
Play 9V9 Half pitch game. Team in possession is looking to advance the ball forwards to score and try to utilise the central area to invite pressure into midfield and create space in wide areas. Only one player from each team is allowed inside the central area at any time. Other players can only defend the central zone by blocking the passing lanes on the outside. 3 points for a goal that is scored after the ball is played into the central zone and back out of it. 1 point for a goal without any conditions applied. (One coach to start as a central bouncer to observe first 5mins then transition to players).

Measurements:
70M X 35M Half Pitch space (with 10M X 10M central zone)

Interventions:
(2 Coaches available)1st Coach Observing from central area and participates as bouncer for 5mins so they can observe how players are moving in the centre of the pitch and if they are looking to play passes centrally to invite pressure in the midfield. 2nd Coach Observing from an area similar to that of a matchday to see how the team's structure is tactically as well as what they've incorporated technically from the session's exercises. Coach on the inside of practice to roam when necessary to provide quick 15-30s feedback, when necessary, without stopping exercise. Coach on outside to bring players out for slightly longer feedback and to show player what they are seeing tactically 30-45s. Be aware avoid both coaches providing feedback individually at the same time unless there is a group intervention. Coaches can both see each other in practice with this set up.