Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Retain & Progress U14 (01/11/21)

Screen 1

Arrival Games Based Practice.
Set Up - 

Pitch split into 4 zones and players placed into an area of the pitch relevant to their strongest position as displayed.
1 & 3 - Winger (red) attacks full back (Yellow). To drive the ball and retain it in shaded area.
2-  Attacking CAM / CF with the ball with 2 CM's or ST's (All Yellow) to play against CB's (Red) if Red's win the ball they have to try and maintain possession 3 v 3 (GK Included). 
4 - Attacking CAM / CF with the ball with 2 CM's or ST's (All Red) To play against CB's (Yellow) if Yellows win the ball they have to try and maintain possession 3 v 3 (GK Included) 
5- Extra players can be added in relevant to their individual positional strengths on the pitch E.G create a 2 v 2 in both wide areas.

Progression - 

Zones disregarded for the pitch to open up to play 7 v 7 for 5-10 minutes to emphasize general principles and positional understanding within different units relevant to 11 v 11. 

Technical - N/A

Tactical - Positional understanding for each player role dependent, Pitch understanding within utilizing space. Decision making within how to exploit the other team E.G direct or connect and combine. Preparing and dealing for transition from in to out of possession, Role and responsibility understanding within units for 2 & 4. How to create overloads in different areas, players positioned into areas that correlate with their strengths. Decision making within if we penetrate forward with the ball and how E.G driving, movement for gaps and openings for passes or direct into dangerous areas?

Physical - Types of movement to help with strategy E.G shuffling to receive and play, sprinting to penetrate. Agility, Balance within strength to stay on the ball, Co-ordination. Speed and quickness to stay relevant to play on a bigger scale in correlation to general fitness. 

Social -  Communication both with and without the ball when in possession, different types of communication such as verbally, within movement, detail in passes, hand gestures and general body language. Social enjoyment between team mates within a games based practice. Freedom for players to problem solve and to be creative within the practice

Psychological -   Competitive psychological pressure and general desire to win. Game understanding / decision making both in and out of possession, game management, staying switched on psychologically within the transition. Confidence to stay on the ball both individually and within units. 

Screen 3

Possession Based Practice
Set Up - Retain & Progress  - 

Yellow - Retain and Progress the ball where appropriate, 5 Passes = 1 Point, if they manage to pass the ball through the red square in the middle, 3 points. 
Red - Attempt to regain possession of the ball and swiftly place ball into either of the goals once done so. 

Blue - Neutral player to play for yellows when they have the ball and red's if they regain possession.

Potential Considerations - Whilst initial success should be achieved by the overload in favor of the yellows, potentially move neutral player to red team to create a further challenge. Size of the red box to change dependent on success within ball retention.  Team Roles to alter ever 4-5 Minutes. 

Technical - Weight, detail and communication within the pass, type of foot to pass the ball E.G inside of foot, knees slightly bent with chest / body weight leaning over the ball to ensure accuracy. Playing into stronger foot,ensuring pass isn't vertical, all angle passes. Scanning to ensure the angle is correct, timing of pass into stride and movement to receive. Opening our body up to be able to see both where the pass is coming fro and where you are passing too, side on.

Tactical -  Positioning within the grid relevant to where the ball is, can you play / receive through the red and if not can we find someone who can? Decision making within retaining or progressing the ball. Positioning players within the grid relevant to strengths and weaknesses. 

Physical - Different types of movement / shuffle and anticipation to receive, Agility, balance and co-ordination, strength to stay on the ball. Ability to maintain high intensity.

Social -  Communication both with and without the ball when in possession, different types of communication such as verbally, within movement, detail in passes, hand gestures and general body language. Message in a pass via direction, weight and detail.

Psychological -  Decision making in how and when we progress the ball through the red square, are you comfortable enough to stay on the ball and drive, different types of passes to play, competitive pressure, awareness to receive and understanding of appropriate positioning both in and out of possession.