Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Next Level Coaching. Week 10
Session Collective
Peter Sturgess
Description
Week 10 begins with a game that focusses on defending (Intelligent Defending). This game will encourage players to press in the opponents half if they are able. It also reinforces the important principle of, when defending - be difficult to beat.
As it the last week its great to play another scoring game (Scoring is Key) to further motivate the players and to have more practice at quick attacking and defensive actions.
Our final game is (Meet the Challenge) and this once again places the focus upon individual brilliance within a team game and I'm sure the players will enjoy it.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Organisation: The game is set up as shown with 3 BLUE attacking 1 RED into a scoring zone (shaded) with a GK. There are two RED players on the half way line waiting to come on. I have shown a full pitch but it would be much smaller and appropriate for the age and stage of the players. This is a game for young Foundation Phase players so a 30x20m area is used.
How to play:
The GK starts the play and rolls out to any of the 3 Blue players and they try to score by getting the ball into the scoring zone and shooting into the net past the GK.
If they score they keep attacking as their GK will now roll out the next ball to repeat and continue. If they don't the game is reversed and the RED team now attack 1 BLUE defender. (see video)
The pressure is low because there is only one defender so the “3” are practicing how to keep possession and attack and score. BUT, if the defender wins the ball they must keep it whilst the two teammates on the sidelines enter the game and two BLUES drop out to the same position. The game is now reversed and they must score against the BLUE GK otherwise they remain as the defenders when the attack is over.
If the ball goes out – dribble or pass in. No corners, restart from the GK if this happens.
Option 1: Change the size of the area (larger or smaller)
Option 2: Play with balls of different sizes
If one team keeps scoring, play for a set time then swap the teams over to see if the score can be beaten.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Organisation: The game can be played 3v3, 4v4, 5v5 or 6v6 so try to play different formats depending on the size of your squad. The game shown is 5v5 on a pitch 30x20m.
How to play:
Each team is trying to score in the normal way. My "games based approach" has:
- No corners or throw ins but the ball can be passed or dribbled in from the sidelines.
- The GK MUST roll out into his/her own half
- From the sidelines players can be challenged to dribble the ball into the most space to restart the game (this may not be towards their opponents goal but we want the players to get better at identifying spaces to re-enter the pitch rather than dribbling into an opponent).
If a goal is scored the game stops. In order for the goal to stand, each player on the scoring team must play 1v1 against an opponent (at the same time) for a short time (this could be 30 seconds or a minute as this is quite physically demanding). If they all have the ball at the end of the time, the goal stands. If anyone has lost their ball, it remains 0-0.
In video 1 the BLUE team are seen scoring a goal.
In video 2 you can see each BLUE player with a ball playing 1v1 against an opponent.
The game can be played at different levels to account for a variety of ability levels. Once a goal is scored you can play at:
Level 5: ALL BLUE players are still in possession of their ball after the time allowed
Level 4: FOUR BLUE players are still in possession of their ball after the time allowed.
Level 3, three players have a ball, Level 2, two players have a ball and Level 1 one player has a ball.
The players can then choose what level they want to play at.
Also, different constraints can be used every time a goal is scored in order for the goal to stand. For example, if you were working on your players ability to take the ball off an opponent the challenge might be:
Option 1: Give the ball to the non-scoring team and the scoring team has to get the ball off them for the goal to stand. Get the players to choose the Level.
Option 2: For working on individual ball control, each player on the scoring team must complete so many kick ups for the goal to stand but if one player from the other team can do more the goal is not allowed.
Be creative in the challenges you pose once a goal is scored. This combined with playing and scoring is a great way to engage and motivate young players.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
In this video you can see each BLUE player with a ball playing 1v1 against an opponent.
Play animation
Play step-by-step
Repeat (toggle)
Full Screen
Pause
Stop
Organisation: Mini pitch with goals ensuring the pitch is big enough for players to have time to spend on the ball. 30x20m
How to play:
Normal game (with or without GK’s) and players can dribble or pass in when the ball goes out of play.
We want to encourage intelligent defending and winning the ball back cleanly so:
1 point for scoring normally
3 points if you win possession back in the oppositions half and your team goes on to score. In the video 7 Red gets the ball in the opponents half (3 points) and then 2 Blue intercepts for another 3 points. This results in a goal so an extra point is scored.
However:
If you are beaten easily when you are pressing in the opponents half and they get round you, you are ‘Locked in’ to that half and cannot recover to help your team defend until your team regains possession. Once this happens you can go anywhere again.
Challenges 1 - Try to cleanly win the ball back close to the opponent’s goal (kicking the ball out is a last resort)
Challenges 2 - Try to choose the best time to win the ball back for your team
Option 1: Reduce the size of the area to make pressing easier.
Option 2: For older age groups consider placing an off side line into the session