Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Attacking Centrally in the final third using the #8 and #10 (Playing in between the lines)

Orientation Phase

20 Minutes (however long it takes to bring out the problem.)

Activity Description: In this activity we have the Learning Phase (Blues) vs the Orientation team the (Reds). The learning phase team has 6 players (6,8,10,7,9,11) while the Orientation team has 8 players (1,2,3,4,5,6,8,10). The Blues will start with possession and will look to score on the red's big goal. The reds look to defend and win back possession to score on the counter goals.

In the Orientation phase, we are now working with the red team. The reds need to be compact and force the play wide in order to try and win the ball. We want to force play wide and shift as a team as the ball goes wide. In order to do that the reds need to be compact and minimize the distance between the midfield and defensive lines. Use the sideline as an extra defender to help win back possession to go and score on the counter goals.

Coaching Points: Show Paint the picture moments in order to show how we want to set up defensively when defending in our own defensive third.

Guided Questions:

What must we be when defending? Compact

Where do we want to force play? Outside

Time: 20 Mins (9 min x 2 sets) 1 min break to deliver coaching and send for water.

Dimensions: 50x40

Learning Phase

Duration: 30 Minutes (9 minute x3 sets)

Activity Description: In this activity we have the Learning Phase (Blues) vs the Orientation team the (Reds). The learning phase has 6 players (6,8,10,7,9,11) while the Orientation team has 8 players (1,2,3,4,5,6,8,10). The Blues will start with possession and will look to score on the red's big goal. The reds look to defend and win back possession to score on the counter goals.

In the Learning Phase, we are working with the Blues. The blues need to start by getting spread out and creating width on the field. Creating width on the field will create gaps for us to use centrally. When the ball goes to the winger can we play back in order to find the far-side center mid in between the lines? We want to drag the opponent to one side of the field in order to find the freeman on the far side. See diagram. 

Player Actions (Blues): 

When the #11 can't dribble or is being shown outside we can play back to the #6

The #7 on the blues has to stay wide so the blues can always threaten with a switch when the ball gets played back 

The #8 and 10 need to stay in between the lines of the reds back 4 and midfield looking to recieve the ball on the half turn

The #9 needs to be pushed up high inbetween the reds #4 and #5 to create depth on the field

Guided Questions: 

When attacking in the final third what do we need to do? Spread out and create depth 

Where should the #8 and #10 play? In between the lines 

Implementation Phase

Implementation Phase (20 Minutes)

In the implementation phase, we are looking to see if we can use what we just learned in a game. When presented in the game can the team in possession attack centrally and find players in between the lines when in the attacking third? Can we attack centrally to create chances and score goals?

Dimensions: 50x40

Duration: 20 minutes 9.5x2 reps