Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Combination Play - RDS - Experienced - 98/99

Juggling Warm-Up (10 mins)

Organization:

In a 30x40 yard grid, each Player with a ball.

Instructions:

- "The One Bounce Juggling Challenge": Player starts the juggle with 1 bounce, then takes 1 touch; then lets the ball bounce again, then takes 2 touches; then let's it bounce once again, then takes 3 touches, etc. If the player messes up the sequence, then they start again at 1. Challenge players to set their own new record.

- Practice various juggling tricks given by coach or other players

Coaching Points:

Players try to improve their touches (suppleness, control and foot-eye coordination) by juggling with different surfaces of their feet & body.

Main Theme - Combination Play (30 mins)

Organization

Half inside area (blues)

Half outside area (whites)

Instructions:

- Players on inside work alone or in pairs (blues) depending on skill being performed

- Players on inside look to play players on outside, open up receive, find new player on outside (when in singles perform move in green square after receiving, before finding next outside pass)

- Players on outside must take 2 touches

1) Blue player plays outside (white) player, opens up to receive facing field, continues finds next target (receiving to turn)

2) Blue plays white, opens up, white plays blue and communicates man on, blue plays double, spins off to receive

3) Blues are now in pairs. Blue plays white, white plays other blue, blue plays 1-2 off his partner

4) Blues in pairs. Blue plays white, white plays other blue, blue plays his partner and runs around to perform overlap.

Coaching Points:

Player in Possession (1, 2, Receiving from white player in 3,4)

- Quality of pass

- Eye contact on check

- Check at supporting angle

- Check shoulder for pressure

- Timing / angle of run

- Communication of desired action (turn, double, 1-2, Overlap)

Supporting Player

- Checking distance / angle of partner to support combination

- Quality of Return Pass

Progression

- Add floating defenders

Tournament 5v5 (30 mins)

Organization:

5v5 Small-sided tournament games: 4 teams of 5 players each team. 2 fields of 30x40 yards with 2 Pugg Goals on opposite endlines.

Instructions:

4 Teams of 5, play 5v5 tournament style format where each team will play one another. 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 for a loss. Each game should be approximately 6-8 minutes in duration (obviously play a 3 game tournament).

Coaching Points:

· Review of session's learning outcomes being translated into the game

· 3 lines of attack

· Creating diamond (gives angles of support)

· Making diamond as big as possible (Creating space)

· Identifying any numbers up situations

Progressions:

None.