Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Education: Receiving in wide areas of the middle 3rd

FieldMap - 6ws

Receiving in wide areas in middle third of the field

What? Receiving the ball in the middle third of the field, particularly at wide areas (controlled 1st touch vs longer 1st touch). Here we focus on controlled 1st touch, because I aim this session for younger age groups.

When? When on possession. Upon receiving, or when coming into contact with the ball.

Where? Middle third but could also be defensive third.

Who? Any player on possession (midfielders, defenders, forwards)

Why? To control the ball and allow that to set us up for the next action, whether a pass or a dribble and to control the ball.

What ifs?

What if there is space in front, then can we take a longer touch?

What if we see pressure coming, can we take the first touch towards our body?

What if the pass goes behind us (not the back foot)?

Numbers:

- Ideal situation is 12 players (4 teams of 3 players) or 9 players (3 teams of 3 players).

- 11 players (3 teams of 3 + 2)

-10 players (3 teams of 3 and 1 team of 4 who can step in middle grid) or 3 teams of 3 and a neutral player

- 8 players (2 teams of 3 players, with 2 neutral players in later activities). The neutral players can become defenders).

- 7 players (2 teams of 3 and a neutral player in the middle, who can become defender in progressions).

- 6 players (2 groups of 3)

- 5 players (1 group of 3, plus a neutral player and a defender). Goal at activity would be for team to get points and try to beat a different target in each time interval.

- 4 players (1 group of 3, plus a neutral and a defender). Goal at activity would be for team to get points and try to beat a different target in each time interval.

- 3 players (1 team).

Major Themes:

- Can we catch the ball with our feet?

- Can we see a clear lane between us and the player passing? Can we make that lane wider?

- Wide vs central areas

Main Activity (25 mins)

Organization:

- Same grid as prior activities and teams from prior activities.

- Blue team is now in the center and defends passes.

Instructions:

- White and Red keep passing, either clockwise or counter clockwise. Blue team tries to intercept passes inside the square. If blue steals the ball they can dribble to an endzone, and now blue is in possession. Defenders cannot go into end zones. If defender wins possession, now he/she needs to dribble to a safe zone (endzone) and his/her team can now start the rotation.

- Teams on possession are free to pass to any endzone for points, however, if they are able to keep the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation, after each full rotation, the teams gets double points (8).

Coaching Points/Questions:

- After I take a first touch, can I look up and see: (1) can I go through center? (2) Should I pass to a teammate.

- What if I recognize space behind or to the side of the defender, can I beat him/her?

- Can my first touch set me up to have the ball in front and put my head up to make a decision?

Progression:

- Players on possession can dribble through for 5 extra points (option 2).

- Players can also now pass across.