Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Transitional play (In possession)

Transition Play in a 4 (+3) v 4 possession game (20 mins)

Objective: To develop the ability to keep possession of the ball during the transition from defence to attack. 

Description:

 In 8 x 16 yard area, we have 2 teams of 4 players and 3 neutral players (Blue). One team (Yellow) starts inside the area with 1 neutral player. The other 2 neutral players move along the 2 end lines. The other team (Reds) have their players on the outside.

The reds and the neutral players aim to keep possession. The objective for the defenders (yellow) is to win the ball and pass to one of the 3 neutral players. At this point they quickly run to the outside, switching positions with the red team. Now the yellows and neutrals are in the possession and the red team is the defenders.

The practice continues with the roles reversed and is continuous.

6 x 3 minutes (2-minute intervention)

Interventions: 

• Concurrent - player-coach interaction during periods of play, the practice remains uninterrupted.
• Terminal - player-coach intervention during predetermined breaks in play.
• Walkthrough - the coach utilizes this technique to give players a clear idea of what is required from a practice or block of work. show players how you would like them to switch play, using a curve, playing with the backline.
• Coaching Process - the coach identifies a problem during play, provides feedback, rehearsal, and restarts practice from the same positions that the problem starts.

Equipment and layout:

• 11 players in each drill - can have 2 drills going at the same time side by side.
• 4 Yellow/ 4 Red/ 3 Blue.
• 8 x 16 yard area.
• Balls next to players on the outside.

Challenges:

• The outside players and the neutrals are limited to 2 touches, the outside players and the neutrals on the end lines are limited to 2 touches and the inside neutral player has 1 touch.
• If the outside players and neutral players complete 8 consecutive passes they score 1 point. 

Fast break attacks in a position specific transition game (25 mins)

8 v 8 (+3).

Objectives:

To work on fast breaks after winning the ball when the opposition is still unorganised.

Description:

In a 45 x 60 yard area we divide the pitch into 3 zones. The central zone is 45 x 30 yards and the 2 end zones are 45 x 15 yards each. We have 2 full-sized goals on either side of the pitch.

We have 2 teams of 6 players in the central zone with 1 neutral player inside and 2 positioned wide on the outsides. Each team also has a support player in each end zone, who makes the fast break attacks more competitive and game realistic.

One team starts in possession (reds) and tries to score in one of the 2 full sized goals with the help of the neutral players. The yellows aim to press, win the ball and then make a quick transition from defence to attack in the opposite direction and score, making sure to use their support player in the end zones. 

Challenges:

• All players are free to move outside of the middle zone once a pass to a support player is made.
• All players have unlimited touches but the neutral/ support players are limited to 2 touches.
• All players have unlimited touches in the central zone and 2-3 touches in the end zones.
• All players are limited to 2-3 touches but the neutral/ support players are limited to 1 touch.

• The defending team need to have a maximum concentration to defend well as a unit, limit the time and space the opposition have and press to win the ball.
• In the transition from defence to attack, the players need to quickly run forward from deep, to support the attacker in the end zone, ask for the ball to be played into space and finish the attacks.
• Quick, quality and synchronised movements are needed to finish the attacks effectively.