Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Match prep session 7

Overall Set Up

Overall Set Up

Key Factors

• 11 vs 11 Match Prep

• Working on different build up strategies and patterns in a 4-3-3 vs a number of different pressing set ups.

• 3 Pressing Problems from the Red team with 2-3 planned solutions per problem for the Blue Team.

• 4 x 7 minute blocks.

• Success for the Blue team is by moving the ball either through, around or over the opposition unit from a goal kick to a pre-determined area for 1 goal or 2 to score in opposition goal.

• Success for the Red team is to win possession of the ball back, be direct in possession and score as quick as possible (10 seconds in blue teams half, 15 seconds in own half).

• As the Blue team builds the attack, reds revert to a pre-determined defensive unit High press/Mid/Low block)

• Once a Red shot has taken place, play restarts either from Blue team GK or to red team to keep them invested and to catch blue team out of shape.

• Blue Team can play through, around or over ensuring they are playing to the strengths of their 4-3-3 formation.

• Challenge Reds to not concede.

Rational for Setting the Blue What if's?

Block 1 - Problem 1 - Playing against a high press

Block 2 - Problem 2 - Mid Block - Red team double team CDM

Block 3 - Problem 3 - Low Block (engagement line) GK receive edge of D

Block 4 - Problem 4 - Free Play

Allow variation (Sometimes starting with opposition) 

Within the Welsh Way Principles of playing through around or over

Passing Technical (10 mins)

Key Factors

Working two side by side grids this passing technical is designed to format the players mindset into the tempo and sharpness or their passing to take into the match prep main session.

• (A) Play and follow pass
• (B) Play with a wall pass with C and follow pass
• (C) Play to D and follow pass
• (D) Restarts the drill working the other side
• Work left the right hand side continuously
• Return to SP
• Pass Tempo
• Communication
• Don't block passing lane
• Embrace and control the confusion

Organisation

• 10x10M Square
• 2 x Grids
• 3 x 60 sec blocks
• Player on each outside cone
• Players at start point

2. Pressing - Decision Making Grid (5 mins)

2 Pressing Game

Objectives

This session is based quick decisions under pressure on the ball.

• The red team have to make 6 passes in the box and keep the ball
away from the blue team

• Once the red team make 6 passes they can switch the ball into any of
the other 3 boxes.

• As the ball travels to the 2 yellow players in a box, the remaining 4
yellow players from the other 2 boxes have to sprint and go and
support their team mates to create a 6v2.

• Once the yellow team touch the ball in the box. Any 2 resting blue
players go and press the ball while the other 2 blue players recover in
the central box.

• Once the red team play the pass to the yellows, they have to fill the
empty boxes the yellows have vacated with 2 players in each ASAP.

The game continues for 2 minutes & the score is collated by how
many times the middle (blue) team win the ball back.

Once the 2 minutes are up the next team go in the middle and press the ball - keep your scores.

Key Coaching Points:

Team in possession:
• Create width & depth for ball circulation, have patience on the ball, find the space players, think 1 or 2 passes ahead, break the defending lines, decision to play through or around the pressing defenders.

Team out of possession:
• When & where to press, reduce time & space for the opposition, communicating and pressing as a team, slowing yourself down in the final yards to win the ball back.

Block 2 - Mid - 2 against CDM (10 mins)

Block 2 - Build Up vs a Mid Block (7 mins)

Key Factors

What if?

What if Red Team adopt a mid block but drop a CF to double up on the deep lying creative Blue midfield player on a pre-determined engagement line?

No. 9

Positioned central of the 18 yard box splitting both Blue CB's.

No. 10

 - Locked on to Blue CDM.

CM

 - Doubled up on Blue CDM.

Rest of Red Unit

 - adopting a mid block based on the engagement line

Blue Team

How to combat this?

Start with usual set up within the 4-3-3 with basic information of looking to to play around using FB/LCF/RCF.

CDM

Drop deep to edge of 18 to create space, if man markers follow can you rotate with other CM?

CB

If pass to CDM is limited can you break the line yourself to force Blue CM to engage you freeing CM?

CM

Can one drop to create a 2 CDM's creating overload?

FB's

Adopt a high starting position

L/RCF

Inside of opposition FB to pin their back 4 so we can get out through FB.

No. 9

Central and High

Another solution

Can be to play through our double pivot. Red No.9 can only attempt to cut the pitch off, if we can find one of our double pivot on 1 touch and play opposite CB as the third man, we are out in 3 passes through FB.

Blue Team Success

Getting into Red Team defensive third = 1 point

Score a goal = 2 points

Problems & Solutions(What If?)

• Opposition adopt a high press (Block 1)

• Opposition adopt a mid block and restrict CDM (Block 2)
• Opposition drop right off into a low block (Block 3)
• Opposition utilise various techniques (Block 4)

Interventions

• Walk through
• Concurrent
• Terminal
• Initiate the session from the tactics board followed by a walk through after 2 mins approx of play. Individually coach team during the breaks with use of the tactics board. 2nd coach to manage Red team.

Free Play (5 mins)

Block 4 - Free Play (5-7mins)

Key Factors

Free Play. Give reds choice how to press for half of the block and then change for the second half. This gives the yellow to team the decisions where and when to play. Showing their learnings from previous blocks.

Problems & Solutions(What If?)

• Opposition adopt a high press (Block 1)

• Opposition adopt a mid block and restrict CDM (Block 2)
• Opposition drop right off into a low block (Block 3)
• Opposition utilise various techniques (Block 4)

Interventions

• Walk through
• Concurrent
• Terminal
• Initiate the session from the tactics board followed by a walk through after 2 mins approx of play. Individually coach team during the breaks with use of the tactics board. 2nd coach to manage Red team.