Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): TWIN CITY U14s/16s BLOCK 1 SESSION 3 COMBINATION PLAY

COMBINATION PLAY & SUPPORTING MOVEMENT (20 mins)

SESSION OBJECTIVE: To support players to combine with teammates together to produce combination play in the final 

DURATION: 60 Minutes EQUIPMENT: Footballs, Bibs, Cones, Goals

COMBINATION PLAY &SUPPORTING MOVEMENT

OVERVIEW: Set up a pitch with two goals at either end and split the pitchinto thirds. 

In each of the goals have a goalkeeper or a target player and or-organize two teams with a ball between them. 

Each team has to work the ballthrough the thirds to play into the goalkeeper/target player in the oppositegoal, as soon as they have done this, they then have to do the same but nowplaying through the thirds in the opposite direction. 

Encourage players tocombine between them to build through the thirds. 

Players are free to movewithin the thirds to create angles and receive. 

You don’t need to have goals forthis practice, they are in place for the progression you do not need to have2 teams, this can be done with just one in your team shape.

COACHING POINTS: Creating Space, Body Shape, Weight & Quality ofPass, Speed Play

PROGRESSIONS: - Teams can now miss out a third with their pass fore.g - the defending third playing into the final third bypassing the midfield.

- Add in a finish at goal instead of playing into the GK’s feet. Have a supply ofballs next to the goal for the GK to restart the attack.

REGRESSION: Every player in the team must touch the ball before it ispassed to the target.

BUILDING ATTACKS (20 mins)

OVERVIEW: 

Using just under half of a full-size pitch or what we have available, we start with a 4 v 2 setup in two end zones with a middle zone being the ‘safe zone’. 

The safe zone allows players to drop deeper without being challenged to promote receiving on the half turn & moving forward. 

The exercise starts with the goalkeeper in possession to either play out using the defenders or directly into the 4 attackers with only one attacker allowed in the safe zone at a time. 

If the players are comfortable with 4 v 2, change the setup to 3 v 3 to challenge their ability to keep possession & build attacks.

COACHING POINTS: Quality of Pass, Hold Up Play, Timing & Supporting Runs, Execution of Finish

PROGRESSIONS: Adjust the players in the end zone to create a neutral 3 v 3 so there isn’t an advantage to the attackers. Take the ‘safe zone’ out or allows defenders to challenge and intercept.

REGRESSION: Start with no defenders in the end zone so combination play and finishing is unopposed to focus on the technique.