Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Creating midfield overload using full backs

Screen 2

Instructions:

A back pass is played from a central player, then as the ball travel to wide full back, pressurizing defender immediately react and try to win it.

Note: Rotate pressurizing defenders after a minute.

Coaching points:

- Roles and responsabilities when there is a rotation

- Quality of the ball into space to allow fluidity in the passing

- Timing of the runs

- If full back end up centrally, winger drop off as full back and centre midfielder act as temporary winger.

Screen 4

Organisation

18 players

Set of footballs in both goals

Blue team in GK-4-3-1

Red team in GK-2-4-2

Instructions: Using full width and edge of the box to edge of the box, play a normal game without corner kicks and throw ins.

Conditions:

- Team in Red need to get the ball wide before a shot and if they score within 8 seconds counts as 2 goals

- If team in Blue score after either a underlap or overlap counts as 5 goals

- After a rotation, one of the Red defenders need to stand still (must raise hand a be clearly spotted) for 10 seconds or until Blue team manage to get a shot (if that takes less than 10 seconds)

Coaching points:

* Full back wide and first touch outside

- Other remaining 3 defenders tuck in and try to equally occupy 18 yard line (mark direct opponent and half of the closest opponent)

- Defensive midfielder to provide passing options ready for the switch and also screen pass to nearest striker if opposition recycle the ball

- Nearest winger need to create first option pass, regardless of starting infield or on the outside. However he need to ensure that pass to CF is possible too

- CF run depend on position of the winger, so ideally a triangles must be created to allow spliting defenders and receive the ball higher on the pitch

- Far winger need to be in line of the 18 yard line, and need to be able to provide aggressive run towards back post if the cross is on

* Full back going infield

- Passing angles are immediately required

- Opposite full back and midfielder need to stretch opposition (length wise too) and play by occupying space between 18 yard box and sideline

- CF need to attack space in behind

* Midfielders in possession and ball travelling infield

- Full backs need to overlap

- CF need to attack space in behind, but if he go to link up in deeper areas than opposite winger can attack space in behind defenders

* Ball in CF

- Midfielders look to support or go in behind the defenders

- CF need to create space and attempt a shot

- Back 4 can use that as an opportunity to stay higher on the pitch

- GK play a sweeper