Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): Speed of Play w/Complimentary Movements in Attack

Technical Warm up (10 mins)

Set Up:

Use a grid 16*16 split into equal quadrants (each 8*8). There are two teams with 4 players each. 

2 players from each team are on opposite endlines and serve as target players. Each team has 2 players in the middle.

One team (red in diagram) starts with the ball. The player on the outside plays to one of the players in the middle who must complete a combination before playing out to the opposite target player. The only rule is that the players in the middle who are combining must be opposite and across from each other to create a diagonal passing option but they are free to move anywhere. 

Once the ball is played out to target player on the opposite side of the grid, they will then play to the other team who will repeat then try to do the same. 

This activity is unopposed

7v7 Conditioned SSG (20 mins)

Set up: 

Use a grid 50*30 divided into thirds with the middle third being 20*30 and the other thirds each 15*30. Each end line has two small goals and teams play 7v7. 

Each team will start with 2 players in the defensive third, 3 in the middle third and 2 in the attacking third. Players are restricted to their thirds when defending. 

The team in possession can have one player from the middle third drop into the defensive third when budling from the back to create a 3v2. Additionally once the team in possession plays into the attacking third one of the midfield players can join to create a 3v2 in the attacking third

Coaching Points:

• TEMPO IN POSSESSION - Recognize times to move the ball quickly but also recognize times that you are able to carry the ball or have time to look up and penetrate whether on the dribble or by passing forward
• COMPLIMENTARY MOVEMENTS - Players should try to avoid being flat when in possession. Create diagonal passing angles that allows the team to progress the ball forward
• RECOGNIZE & EXPLOIT OVERLOADS - In addition to making movements that compliment the initial movement of a teammate, players should try to interpret where space will open up to create a numbers up advantage for the team in possession and make well timed movements to create/exploit an overload

7v8 Functional Play (20 mins)

Set Up: 

Use half the field with a full size goal on the goal line and two counter goals on the midfield line. The field is divided into five vertical zones, these zones will be used as tactical reference points. The attacking team (red) plays in 5-2 (from a 3-5-2). The defending team (blue) plays in a 4-3 formation. Attacking team tries to play through the opposition and score on the full size goal, the opposition try to score in the two counter goals. 

Coaching Points: 

• OCCUPYING ALL FIVE LANES - The attacking team should be encouraged to use all five lanes across the pitch. Keeping the wing-backs as wide as possible will stretch the pitch and create space inside for the players to combine, circulate and penetrate. 
• FINDING SPACE IN MIDFIELD - Challenge the midfield players to find space to receive in between opposition units. A numerical advantage here should give the attacking team an opportunity to combine successfully through the middle of the pitch.
  
• RECEIVING HIGH AS A WING-BACK - When making passing angles, the wing-backs should stay as high as possible and attempt to play off the opposition midfield players. This way, they can take their first touch beyond and take them out of the game.
  
• POSITIONAL DISCIPLINE - Stress the importance of staying within the set system and using passes to exploit the opposition’s weak areas.