Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): 9 v 9 Coaching Practice - Ireland u21 Preparation for Match vs Iceland U21 - Match Day-3

Possession Transition 5 v 4 (20 mins)

Exercise 1: Small-Sided Games - 2nd Build Up Stage

Time: 4 x 4 min sets + 1.5 min recovery

5v4 in each shaded area

Rules:

1. Greens keep the ball and look to make 6 passes before they can score on either of the small goals.

2. Whites keep tight team and win the ball to either score on either of the small goals or pass out of the grid with a successful pass.

• Dribble over line = 1 point
• Score in small goals = 2 points

3. When Greens lose the ball they must hunt to regain possession to prevent whites from scoring.

Game 9 v 9 (35 mins)

Exercise 3: Game

Time: 4 x 8 min + 30 seconds recovery

Green Team: Att Organization: 1-2-3-3   Def Organization: 1-2-4-1

White Team:  Att Organization: 1-3-3-2   Def Organization: 1-3-4-1

Attacking Phase Organization:

• Use a variety of passes to unbalance the block (up, back and through)
• Occupy spaces in behind lines of midfield
• Penetrating runs from inside (underlaps) - 7, 11, 8, 9, 10, 
• Switching of lanes after pinning opposition to one side to find underloads in wide areas

Attack > Defend Transition Phase:

• Mindset changes when we lose the ball to hunt - counter-pressing
• Stop forward passing actions from the opposition
• Recovery runs are sprints back
• Delay and Deny to get into defensive block - with focus on CBs dealing with forward runs from opposition's 7, 11, 9 

• Tight team to close lines
• Controlled agression to force mistakes/triggers for pressing
• Dominate the middle - 6, 8, 10, 4, 5

• Look to play forward with numbers up to get behind opposition and score before a compact defensive block is set up
• 7, 11, 9, 8, 10 make forward penetrating runs on ball carrier's forward-facing cues