Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Breaking lines specific ip

OA2 - Breaking lines in possession

Principles - To play through, around or over. 

Pitch size and organisation

60m x 30m  - this area size can be changed relevant to the age of participants. (this is senior size)

6 v 6 with a floating common player (yellow) and 2 GK

In play segments 4 x 3 mins with 2 min break for drink and coaching interventions. 

The GK & No9 has to stay in the 1 v 1 zone at all times

The DEF are marked in the shaded boxes and they stay in the box dictated in & out of possession. this is so the practice can concentrate on the specific of the MF 

The MF can move around the middle zone as they wish and as the session evolves. 

Both the red and blue teams are to adopt the coaching principle but only the BLUE team will be coached, while the other team will be managed for realism. The objective of the sessions is for the team in possession to break the playing line using the common methods of playing the ball through, around or over the opposition therefore creating a goal scoring opportunity for the No9 in the 1 v1 zone. The common player (yellow) is always on the team IN possession, therefore creating and overload. The team in possession has to play through the centre zone and cannot go direct (OVER) from DEF to No9, so in this practice the element of going OVER as been removed so highlighting the THRIOUGH & AROUND elements of breaking lines. Once the team in possession has made a successful pass into the No9, the 9 is in a 1 v1 with the GK. If a goal is scored then the GK distributes the ball into either DEF box with the session becoming live once again. The DEF in the box must stay in the box at all times. The MF can play back into the DEF if need to keep possession. if the ball goes out of play then the practice will restart with a throw in with the GK.

HOW 

The Coach will work with the just the BLUE team while the REDs will be managed to ensure realism within the practice, but still adopt the same in possession principles. The coach should focus the attention on the MF zone explaining the key coaching points to break lines easier / faster. 

• Make the area as wide as possible.
• Receive the ball on the half turn 
• Good first touch
• Check shoulder to assess the space they are in before they receive the ball.
• Communication

SSG

Explanation

The objective of the team in possession is to play around or through the opposition in order to create goalscoring opportunities. The SSG reflects a normal game in that throw ins, corner kicks and goalkicks all apply. Offside is in effect, but we will utilise the discs for the final third to ensure the defending team holds their line their and the attacking players cannot be in there in advance of the ball. We are looking for players to play to feet & into space.

Key Factors

In Possesssion

• Creating passing lanes
• Passing through lines (to feet & into space)
• Passing around (to feet & into space)
• Triggers (takes a touch inside - go outside; takes a touch outside, go inside)
• Decision making (does a player hold on, wait until the right time to make the pass)

Out of Possession

• Stay Narrow
• Prevent Split Passes
• Force Wide
• Protect Space in Behind
• Break Passing Lines

Organisation

• 8v8, plus GKs
• 70m x 35m with 2 Wide channels of 5m and End Zones marked to 20m 
• Two sets of bibs (e.g. Blue and Red)
• 20 minutes session: Free Play (2mins): Condition A (6 mins): Condition B (6 mins): Free Play 8 mins
• Blues (who we will coach) set up in a 4-3-1 and Reds in a 3-3-2. This is to ensure we create opportunities for Blue FBs to move forward to create overload & width
• Channel and End Zones only become live when we implement Conditions
• Restart is with keepers who must play to one of their defenders

Condition A - Focussing on Blue Team Playing Around

Utilising wide channels, no running with ball into zones and playing over, only passes through and around allowed (this forces players to play passes through the middle zone). To be able to score you need to have played around

 1. No restrictions and no Defending player can enter the channel

 2. Building on 1, the attacking player now only has 3 seconds to play a pass

 3. Defending players can enter the channel, once attacking player has taken a touch

Conditions B - Focussing on Team Playing Through

Focus on passes through/in behind, no running with ball forward into zones. To score you need to have played through

 1. Defending team need to be outside the defensive third, attacking team cannot enter that area with the ball or be waiting there. Attacking players can receive a pass into space in that third (though ball) i.e. the run onto a pass into space. Defenders not allowed to enter

 2. Building on (1), defenders can enter on the attacking players first touch

 3. Building on (2), defenders can enter the final third once the ball is played in there

Scoring

Goal: 5 points

Pass Through the lines to feet or into space and received: 2 points

Pass Around: 1 point 

What If: 

a. Diffculty playing through from the back out -> only one attacker can be active, midfielders can drop into 

b. Pace is slow: 2-3 touches / 3 seconds on ball

c. One team too strong, add an additional player if available to weaker team/take a player away from stronger team