Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Combination Play Between Midfielders & Attackers

MDG Setup for 10 Players

ORGANISATION

Organise area size according to player numbers.  2 End zones and 2 restricted wide zones (do not run the full length of the pitch)

Play an end to end MDG with target players in the end zones and neutral players in the wide areas.

Score by playing in to the target player. Continuous play - after scoring, look to immediately score at the opposite end.

CONDITIONS:

- must play wide before going forward to score.

- must play through, not over

VARIATIONS:

Will depend on player numbers:

- play an additional neutral player in the centre

- put a player from each team in each wide area who are no longer neutral  - no other players can enter the wide zones but the wide players should compete against each other.

KEY POINTS:

- movement of wide players to create an angle to receive, either dropping deep or pushing high

- movement of midfield players to create passing angles when the ball is wide

- identifying triggers according to movement of others - eg if he moves wide, shall go inside?

- move the ball to move the opposition

- quick penetrating passes when the passing lines open up

PROGRESSIONS:

- allow wide players to move inside when the ball is on the opposite side of the pitch.

- allow target players to drop in to receive and pass to 3rd man running into the end zone

MDG Setup for 12 Players

MDG Setup for 14 Players

Half Pitch Practice

ORGANISATION:

- When the wide player receives, this will be trigger for the #10 to move wide into space.

- #10 movement is in turn the trigger for the #4 to move inside to create an angle to receive ball from #10

- Opposite wide player #11 should now be looking to get forward as a line opens up for the pass to the opposite wing

KEY POINTS:

- players must identify triggers and react

- movement of the #4 (CDM) to create angles to receive - either from in front from the #10 or from behind from either Central Defender.

- as one wide player drops deep can the opposite wide player go higher to anticipate the switch in play?

- "move the ball to move the opposition"

VARIATIONS:

- work on positional rotation between the #8, #4 & #10, across both vertical & horizontal lines