Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Lou Fusz Blue Star Major 09 & 10 - Final 3rd Combinations & Creativity (9/14/22)

Final 3rd Combinations (15 mins)

Two attacking zones and a three v three in each half. 

We have a floater in a central 5 yard zone, allowing the possession team to connect play through to a finish. 

The objective here is for players to recognise space available, allowing them to play forward when possible and for our floating player to play on the half turn, checking space and penetrating defensive lines with defence splitting passes.

8 v 0 (1) - Link Up Play in Attacking 3rd (15 mins)

Work on combination play and when to send wingbacks. Remain compact and organized, touch back on counter-pressing from Monday 9/12 session. 

Attacking in the Final 3rd (20 mins)

The attacking team initially maintains possession between the CF, 2 AM's and No.6 (Holding midfielder).

The defending team have 2 CB's and a holding midfielder in the central possession grid.

The two wide attacking players represent wide forwards or wingers. They play against two full backs.

Player Movements:

Players should be looking to make penetrating runs (including central midfielders breaking from deep positions).

Diagonal forwards runs are desirable.

Full backs should be actively over and underlapping when allowed.

Peeling runs to receive half turned are desirable.

Pattern Options:

Central combinations.

Wide to the wing player for a 1vs1.

Through balls (Diagonal/Straight).

Overlapping/Underlapping full back.

2 teams compete. The blue (attacking team) attempts to score in the full size goal. The red team attempts to regain possession and dribble across the end line where the coach is positioned. The coach starts play by passing to an attacking player in the 4vs3 zone. The diagrams below show potential solutions to breaking down the opponents back line. For the first 10 mins we can instruct the defenders to play passive (if needed) for players to get comfortable with the patterns.

Players cannot leave their initial zone until the ball leaves the central grid.

Offside applies behind the grids.

Supporting outside backs may enter into the 1vs1 channels when instructed to by the coach.

Keys:

• Quick ball movement.
• Limited touches.
• Peeling runs to receive in open (half turned) body position looking to play forward.
• Forward runs from midfielders.
• Create overloads in wide areas.
• Combination play in central areas.
• Variety in attacking options to break the block.

6 > 10 > ball in behind to winger through CB & RB to isolate 1v1

6 > 10 > ball to feet of wing back as winger makes outside in run across face of wing back

Easier - 4v2 middle OR Add neutral in middle  / Harder 4v4 middle

Progressions: minimum 3 passes before playing out to another grid

2 touch in central grid

Gates for defenders