Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): In Possession - Breaking Lines

Description

Session to work on breaking lines by playing through a press and helping players understand when to play through, around or over the opposition when facing a defensive line and press. 

1. Welsh Way Principles - Understanding when to play through, around or over

2. Organisation/Area Size - 25m x 40m split into 4 equal size sections.   12 Players required, 6 red, 6 blue. 3 blocks of 5 mins with 1min interval between each block

3. Explanation - The set objective is for the team in possession to play either through, round or over the adjacent line of opposition players to move the ball between the marked zones.  If the ball is intercepted, the roles of the teams switch and the team that was in possession now plays as the out of possession unit.  Through the 4 blocks the conditions placed on the game are relaxed to introduce new variables and allow for progressions.

4. How - Both teams play as both in and out of possession and whilst the coaching emphasis will be on the in possession team, inherently there will be opportunities to coach the out of possession team also.   

5. Conditions, Challenges and Targets - The challenge for the in possession team is to retain the ball whilst continually looking to break the line of the defenders separating them from their coloured teammates.  A simple scoring system could be introduced 1 point for playing around, 2 for playing over and 3 points for playing through if it's an appropriate motivator for the group.

In Block 1 the condition is that the players must stay within their marked zones.

In Block 2 one of the players in possession is allowed to drive/dribble through the defensive line if the opportunity allows.  If successful, one of his teammates must switch to fill the space he has left and possession continues

In Block 3 the defenders are given the option of being able to commit one player into the possession zone to press the ball. If successful they can then play the ball back to their zone and their team then look to stay in possession. If the press is beaten, the player returns to his defensive zone and play resumes.

6. Key coaching points

In possession:

Looking for split passes / quality and weight of passing / body position for receiving the ball (seeing three corners) / playing forwards / combinations in triangles / dribbling and running with the ball to exploit space / making the pitch big / control in tight areas

Out of possession:

Anticipating split passes / forcing play wide / defending narrow / triggers for press / 1v3 defensive positioning

7. Coaching Interventions

Terminal feedback; start of block one to set up rules of play (60 secs), then progression briefing at each break before the next block.  Concurrent interventions for in possession team.  Coaching process only to be used if practice isn't understood or successful.