Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): (YDP) Spreading out to maintain & exploit space

(YDP) Spreading out to maintain & exploit space

Practice organisation:

• Area 70x30yds, marked in 10x10yd grids, as illustrated.

• 16 players, 2 balls.

• 2 groups of 6 players in main gridded area, plus

4 Target players - 1 in each sector of the split

end zones.

• Practice starts with: each team has a ball & the objective is to pass

through main area to eventually play unopposed into a T, moving in

the end zone.

• 1 player only allowed in each grid, in main gridded area,

to maintain spacing.

• If 2 players arrive in the same grid, they may only

play 1 touch & move-off.

• In end zones: T’s move in & out of split sectors to create space in

which to receive passes.

• Play resumes in opposite direction, from T’s.

Detail

• Awareness of other players’ positions & movements.

• Variations in types & speed of passes to supply team-mates.

• Encourage invention & unusual passing skills.

• Encourage quick sequences of 1 touch passing if possible.

• Understanding where 1st. touch may be directed according to space

& time available.

• Simple progression for this practice is:

- Set challenge for each team to play from end to

end as many times as possible in 1/2 minutes (coach/players

decide) - to encourage speedy

but accurate passing & support play.

Key coaching points

• Challenges for players include:

- Varying passes & engaging team mates through MF areas.

- Maintaining good spacing to provide passing options.

- Timing & nature of movement off ball to

support passer.

- Understanding where to move-to next.

- Strikers timing their movement to link-in

with advancing support players.

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.