Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): To Improve positioning of #2 & #3 on the weak side of the ball when playing against 2 center forward (Start Time: 2021-10-11 14:55:00)

The 5W's Description of current behavior

What

• We struggle to recognize quick shifting from #2 & #3 when they are on weak side to the strong side of the ball when playing against 2 center forwards. We leave huge gaps within our back 4 as we are very stretched leaving attackers in a 1v1 situation and giving opposition plenty of time and space to play through balls behind back 4

Where

• In the attacking third

Who

• #2, #3, Primary 
• #4 & #5 Secondary

When

• When playing against 2 center forwards in the attacking third of the field as opposition #2 & #3  try to play their #9 & #10 right away to leaving their 2 center forwards in a 2v2 situation

Why

• Because we are not able to recognize the 2v2 situation we leave our #4 & #5 as we get too high and wide and we are unable to shift and create a numerical superiority

Exercise #1 Warm Up (10 mins)

Organization

• 15 minutes- 3x3 minutes intervals (2 minutes rest & dynamic stretching in between intervals)
  
• 6 minutes break between, 2 minutes between each block
• 18 players
• Field size 25x20 yards
• 4v4 + 1 neutral player to targets 
• 2 grids 35x25 yards
• 9 players per grid

Explanation

• Interval #1
• 4v4 +1 in the middle as players look to progress the ball forward to either one of the targets
• Coach always restarts the game when the ball goes out of bounds
• In order to get a point, the ball has to go from one target to the another
• Target has to dribble inside the grid before connecting a pass
• Players switch with targets but only with their color
• Interval #2
• Target player has to dribble inside the grid before connecting a pass
• Players switch with targets only with their color
  
• Interval #3
• Target player has to pass the ball before entering the grid, ideally 1 touch but 2 at most
• Target players switch only with their color once the ball is played to them
  

Key Words 

• My plan to teach the guided questions below are to coach them during the flow of the game and during the two minutes break. The specific moments are looking for are leaving players in 1v1 situation ideally on the middle of the field and also leave unmarked players on the wings
• Guided questions - What are your options? 
• Can I use the width of field to stretch defenders and create gaps?
• Can we find the target player right away?

Exercise #3 Learning (25 mins)

Organization

• 27 minutes- 3x7 minutes periods 
• Rest 3 minutes per block
  
• Team structure 9v9: Blue team (1, 4, 3, 1 ) vs Red team ( 3, 4, 2, ) 
• Field size 90x70 yards
• Focus Blue Team
•  Joaquin coaches Blue Team 
• Joe coaches Red Team

Explanation

• Play starts from the coach in the middle of the field
• Blue scores by dribbling to the end zone
• If Blue receives the ball as they are running into the end zone the goal is worth 3 points
• Red team scores on the big goal
•  If red scores from a through ball the goal is worth 3 points
• If red scores from 1v1 situation the goal is worth 3 points

Objectives

• Outnumber opposition #9 & #10 by having a 3v2 situation when the ball is at our attacking 3rd
• Make the field compact by having back 4 slide to the strong side of the ball when opposition plays either one of the center forwards
• Positioning of #4 & #5 in loss of possession, stay more connected with each other

Teaching Learning

• My plan to teach the specific moment that I am looking for which is outnumbered the 2 center forwards and not leaving players unmarked on the flanks will be done by freezing the activity 1 time in each block and demo what I want out of #2, #3, #4 & #5. I will be using coaching during the flow of the game, and guided questions when doing the demo, to make sure they understand the concept we are trying to implement which is the compactness of the back 4 when possession has been lost in attacking 3rd.

Key Words

• Outnumber opposition
• Shift as a team
• Stay compact

Guided Questions

• Defenders, what is your priority when possession has been lost in attacking 3rd?
  
• When should you drop towards #4& #5?
• What space is the most important to cover?
• When you should slide to ball side?
• When can you cheat higher?

• Get organized, balance, compact and slide to the strong side of the ball
• When they are facing an equal numbers situation 2v2 and need numerical superiority to create a 3v2 situation 
• The middle of the field where the goal is 
• When possession has been lost and center backs are exposed in even numerical situation 1v1 or 2v2 to create a numerical superiority and make field compact
• When center backs outnumber center forward and we have numerical superiority 2v1

Opposition Expected Behavior

• Center forwards occupying opposition 2 center backs
• Progress ball forward as soon as possible looking to play any of the 2 center forwards
• Quick transition once possession has been won
• Stretching field as wide as possible by #2 and #3 when in possession
• Closest center forward on the strong side of the ball slide wide to unbalanced center backs and create a 1v1 situation
• Center forwards play further away from each other when opposition is in possession to stretch center backs