Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): SUFC - Ressies Week 2 - Session 2 - Up, Back & Through! A continuation of 3rd man Combinations.

P2-UOP Patterns (40 mins)

Practice 2  - Unopposed Patterns of play (UBT - 3rd man combinations.): This practice is designed to act simultaneously as a Technical Passing and movement practice and educational tool. We want players to be aware of different ideas and or patterns of play so that when they are in a game they have more ideas and solutions to live problems/scenarios. Todays focus will look at Bielsa's Up, Back & Through Theory (UBT).

The UBT combination starts with a forward pass (UP) to a teammate who drops back and drags his mark.

The second part of the action is a lay-off (BACK) to a player facing forward (supporting) who places the ball in the space created (THROUGH). There should be a third-man (3rd-player combinations) run who exploits the area behind.

Set up.

Players are split into two groups who will alternate attacking patterns + 1GK. 
With 12 players + 1gk = 6+6+1
With 16 players + 1gk = 8+8+1   

Split 1x Half into 2 Half's. Have realistic player selections to make it more transferable to real game scenarios. Can we have the GK in goal, CB at CB etc. Id also recommend using cones as reference points or as "defenders" for players to play around as this is an unopposed practice.

Pattern 1.0 - The basics of an Up, Back & Through! 
*An animated example is Shown below - P1-UBT V1.0 Animated*

Pattern 1.1 - The basics of an Up, Back & Through

*An animated example is Shown below - P1-UBT V1.1 Animated*

Pattern 1.2 - The basics of an Up, Back & Through!

*An animated example is Shown below - P1-UBT V1.2 Animated*

Key Coaching Points:
Timing - The timing of off the ball movement & our passes is crucial to a successful combination. Players should be aiming to make the passes early with minimal touches. In regards to movement, players are encouraged to make runs as the ball is on its way/arriving at the players feet. They want to be late and fast with their movement to avoid being tracked or marked.

Quality of Pass - Demand players to play high quality passes. We need to think about the correct weight, direction and type of pass to play in each moment. The better the pass the higher % we have at succeeding. 

1-2 Touches + Speed of Play - Again, this ties into both timing and Quality of pass. However just simply encouraging and reminding players to play in 1-2 touches where possible is best for successful combinations as it gives the opposition less time to read, mark or intercept the play.

Technical Movement - Late and fast + Deception. Can we make our movements late and fast to avoid being marked or tracked. Furthermore, can we draw opposition players out of space we want to exploit. E.g., Come short to go long OR go long to come short. Again, these deceptive movements need to be executed late and fast to avoid being tracked or marked.

P2-UBT V1.1 Animated

Pattern 1.1 - The basics of an Up, Back & Through!

• The ball is played into the CB who then moves forward.
• The FB moves forward at the same speed as the CB, whilst the winger Holds their position high and wide in and the CM provides support short.
  
• The CB Next plays a 1-2 with the FB. The winger uses this as a Que to drop in centrally (Mid 3rd).
• The CB then plays a ball into the wingers feet. As the pass is played both the FB and CM make runs forward in support of the winger.
  
• The winger lays the ball off to either of the supporting players (FB or CM).
• the player who receives the ball then looks to play in the other play who is continuing their run in behind.
  
• This receiving player then looks to break forward into space to score or cross to his attacking teammates arriving in the box.

P3-SG (20 mins)

Practice 3: Small sided games.
Players will be split into 2 teams of 6v6 or 8v8.

Scoring
1 goal = scoring normally.
1 goal = a successful UBT or 3rd man combination
2 goals = 3rd player combo leading to goal.
3 goals = UBT leading to goal.

Key Coaching Points:
Timing - The timing of off the ball movement & our passes is crucial to a successful combination. Players should be aiming to make the passes early with minimal touches. In regards to movement, players are encouraged to make runs as the ball is on its way/arriving at the players feet. They want to be late and fast with their movement to avoid being tracked or marked.

Quality of Pass - Demand players to play high quality passes. We need to think about the correct weight, direction and type of pass to play in each moment. The better the pass the higher % we have at succeeding.

1-2 Touches + Speed of Play - Again, this ties into both timing and Quality of pass. However just simply encouraging and reminding players to play in 1-2 touches where possible is best for successful combinations as it gives the opposition less time to read, mark or intercept the play.

Technical Movement - Late and fast + Deception. Can we make our movements late and fast to avoid being marked or tracked. Furthermore, can we draw opposition players out of space we want to exploit. E.g., Come short to go long OR go long to come short. Again, these deceptive movements need to be executed late and fast to avoid being tracked or marked.