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Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Alternative Pitch Layouts for Coaching Sessions

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Mark Williams

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Mark Williams
Name: Mark Williams
City: Swansea
Country: United Kingdom
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Description

A consideration of different pitch layouts and how they may be utilised in our coaching sessions

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Introduction

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Introduction
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Introduction

Introduction

Roughly a year ago, I saw a Gary Curneen/Modern Soccer Coach video where he talked about potential different pitch layouts that could be used to provide visual cues and pointers to help players better understand "pitch geography".

Although my thoughts aren't yet fully formulated, I thought I would get the diagrams down in SSP in order to (hopefully) give ME some visual cues!

It's important to remember that, although all of the pictures, I have used are full-size pitches, all of these layouts can be scaled down to small sided pitches and 2/3 pitch size if it helps understanding.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 1a Five Vertical Channels

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 1a Five Vertical Channels
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1a Five Vertical Channels

1) 5 Vertical Channels

a) Defensive Use

Can be used for coaching defensive shape and movement - especially useful for younger players  who are adapting to a full size pitch.

When young players first encounter a full-size pitch, the Back Four often try to defend the full width - this is impossible.

Instead, teach the principle of defending 3/5 of the pitch at any one time; moving from side to side as the ball moves but recognising always that the most important area to defend is Zone 3, because that is where the goals are!

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 1b Five Vertical Channels

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 1b Five Vertical Channels
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1b Five Vertical Channels

1) 5 Vertical Channels

b) Attacking Use

Use the channels to develop and illustrate the Principle of Width & Depth in attack.

Gives a visual cue to the concept of "half spaces"

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 2 Three Horizontal Channels

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 2 Three Horizontal Channels
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2 Three Horizontal Channels

2) Three Horizontal Channels

I have used this set up and variations of it (e.g. 4-Horizontal Channels) to explain the connectivity of the "units" (defence/midfield/attack) and how they need to move in support of each other as (for example) an attack develops or in transition

This set up can also be used to explain to players in different positions, the pitch areas that are their prime responsibility (and, equally, any "no-go" areas that I don't want them entering!)

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 3 Wide Channels

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 3 Wide Channels
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3 Wide Channels

3) Wide Channels

Can be used both offensively and defensively to demonstrate the impact of maintaining width and switching play in order to create (and deal with) the resultant overloads

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 4 Double Wide Channel

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 4 Double Wide Channel
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4 Double Wide Channel

4) Double Wide Channel

Not a set up that I've used!

However, it could be used to help develop the relationship between (for example) a wide player and full-back, so that they understand relative movements and timing.

In the simple example shown, as the full-back steps out wide, the winger makes the opposite movement infield

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