Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Penetrative play:bouncing the ball

Bouncing the ball (35 mins)

Session Objective:

To develop midfield link play

Organisation:

Two teams of 8,arranged in three areas of pitch as shown.Players in Area A receive ball off goalkeeper and attempt to play through to players in area B.

Condition: When receiving ball,Players 1 and 4 can only play ball into area C if they have played ball and received it back first.

As example,1 cannot pass directly to 2 as line of play blocked by player 3,By "bouncing" ball off 4 (i.e playing pass and moving to change angle when ball returned)1 can now play to 2.

Encourage 1 and 4 to keep possession,If pressurised they can play back to start again .

Development(a):Can also play and receive pass back off front player.Can then work on forward runs of other player.

Development(b):Player in section A who plays ball in to area B can join in till possession lost.As before,ball only goes to area C if it has been "bounced".

Idea is to keep possession by playing and receiving back to change angles and then make penetrative pass.

Development(c).Players in area A must "bounce "ball before playing to area B.

Rotate players in all areas.

Key Factors:

Angle to receive and play forward.

Quality of pass

Movement to create angle to receive ball back and create "new picture".

Quality of pass forward

Movement to receive off front players

Movement off bal by second striker.