Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Switching Play to Penetrate

Technical/Warm Up (15 mins)

Set Up: 

Use an area 20*20. Place 6 players on the outside of the area and 2 players in the middle with a ball. Players in the middle play to anyone on the outside then move to receive the opposite ball. 

Players stay in the middle for 45 seconds then switch to bring in two new players.  

Progression: 2 players in the middle but now with just one ball. The players in the middle must combine quickly before playing the ball to someone on the outside. The same player that plays the ball to the outside must receive the pass that comes back inside the area. 

Coaching Points:

• Receive ball across body to see more of the field 
• Check to receive ball at good angles, avoid flat passes 
• When combining in the middle support player should always try to get into line of vision of teammate receiving the ball so that combination can happen quickly 
• Clean technique, sharp passes

10v10 Eight goal game (25 mins)

Set Up:

• This conditioned possession practice is set up with twoteams of 10 and played on a pitch with eight mini-goals.
• Two mini-goals are positioned on each of the 18-yardboxes of a full-sized pitch, as shown. The other four arepositioned in the wide channel – two on each side andall facing outwards.
• The practice is directional, so both teams are looking toscore in any of the four mini-goals in the half they areattacking.
• Red is the coached team and should set up in a3-5-2 formation. The opponents (blue) are set up in a4-3-3 shape.
• The ball starts with the middle center-back on the red team.
• If either team successfully scores in one of the centralmini-goals, they score two points. An example ofthis is shown in the diagram.
• If a team scores in any of the mini-goals in the widechannels, they will score one point.
• If a team scores, they will retain possession and playstarts again with one of their center-backs.
• If the ball leaves the pitch, play restarts as it would ina normal game.
• Play for three blocks of six minutes, with a 90-secondrest between blocks.

• Penetrate/play forward when possible. Right/left center backs must look to break lines 
• Wingbacks should look to stretch the pitch as wide as possible. Provide width
• #6 should look to create diagonal angles to receive off the back 3; should also look to create angles deeper than the #8s when the ball is played into a more advanced position so that if ball is played backwards the #6 can then switch the point of attack and control the game 
• #8s work to create options for the backline so that the team can break lines to play forward. Must triangulate to maintain good spacing in central area to off balance opposition and exploit any central gaps that open up
• Forwards (#9/10) should work together to create near side option for the ball while the other runs in behind in space created. This has the potential to free up space for the far side #8 to make a penetrating run