Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Phase 1 Week 1 Session 1 - Building the play U17s 08/02/24 (Start Time: 2024-01-09 17:30:00)

shadow play/passingpatterns (15 mins)

Organisation:  The team to be setup up in 1-3-5-2 formation to work through uncontested shadow play/passing patterns in full shape on half field.

Key focus

formation understanding

passing pattern understanding

positional understanding

rotations/ off ball movement

adaptability under pressure

Coaching Points:

Technical/Tactical

Passing - ball speed, direction, deciding whether to pass to feet or into space, passing to the task, using the correct part of the foot for the right type of pass
Receiving - using the correct part of the foot to receive the ball, receiving the ball to continue the ball in the direction of play, soft feet on receiving, body shape

Crossing - looking up before crossing, aiming for attacker, eye contact with attacker, ball speed, whipped cross, drilled cross, floated cross

Finishing - always finish on a goal, hitting the target, use both feet, use head, placement of shots, power of shots, using appropriate part of the foot.

positional understanding, working on and off the ball, moving into space, checking off markers, working as individual units (defence,mid,att), working as a complete unit (whole squad) rotations before/after a pass/cross/shot, rest defence, saftey net, balance between def/att

Psychological

Scanning, vision, confidence, bravery, making the right decisions, learning from mistakes, focus on the task, pushing through tough times

Social

Team work, communication, verbal, non verbal, signals, cues, triggers, enjoyment, fun, team togetherness

Physical

Running, passing, crossing, shooting, heading, strength



Progressions:

build play from back (30 mins)

Organisation: Half field and field split into 5 lanes, 

8v6 possession game, attacking team (blue) to build up from the back to look to score in mini goals on half way

defending team (yellow) to try and stop them and can score in big goal if they win the ball 

Ball to start with GK/Coach in the big goal

Coaching Points:

CENTRE-BACK POSITIONING
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The positioning of the centre-backs is vital to building from the back successfully.
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The middle centre-back should play on one side of the six-yard box. If the goalkeeper is right-footed, the centre-back should line up on the left. If the goalkeeper is left-footed, the centre-back should move to the right.
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The other centre-backs then try and play on the outside shoulder of the first line of the pressing players.
ADVANCED MIDFIELDERS
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The advanced midfielders (#7 and #10) should attempt to play in the ‘corridors’ (lanes 2 and 4 in the diagrams).
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They should also attempt to play behind the opposition midfield line. This will pin the midfielders and prevent them from affecting the 4v2 scenario shown in
Diagram 1 on the previous page.
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Any time the opposition midfield presses, drilled passes can be played into the advanced midfielders for them to play forward.
MIDFIELDERS ARRIVING
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Any time the opposition attempts to press, a deeper midfielder needs to arrive to be an option to play into.
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When this happens, they will generally be able to bounce with one touch to one of the wider centre-backs. They can now progress the ball by either dribbling or passing forward.

COMMIT & FIND THE SPARE PLAYER
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Throughout this practice, players should be encouraged to stay on the ball until an opponent presses them. Once they have been pressed, they should attempt to work the ball to the spare player.
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An example could be the goalkeeper standing with the ball to entice the opposition striker to press. Once they press, they should look to find a centre-back or deep midfielder quickly to allow progression up the pitch.

MANAGING THE OPPOSITION
PRESS OR PROTECT
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The out-of-possession team should be encouraged to defend in a number of ways, but always look to either press or drop off into a mid-block and protect.
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This will pose the attacking team with a variety of problems to overcome.

Progressions: