Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): FAW C Certificate Passing (Penetration)

Set up

Overall: 36 m x 24 m divided into 6 equal boxes of 12 x 12.  

• Warm up: 2 12 x 12 boxes
• Technical: 1 24x24 box (as shown) - remove one red centre cone
• Skill: same as technical
• Small sided game: 24 x 36 (entire area) - remove both centre cones

Equipment: 

• 12 cones of the same colour
• 2 medium / large goals near pitch to be moved into place for small sided game.   Keep goals more than 2 metres off pitch at other times to avoid risk of collision by players during earlier parts of the session.
• 12 balls

Technical (10 mins)

Objectives: 

Stretch passing and receiving mechanics in a more dynamic environment

Get into space to receive 

Work on body shape to either:

a) lay off first time to a team mate to who can play forward, or

b) play a first time penetrating forward pass

Set up: 

24 x 24 metre square

5 players per team (if more than 5, add an extra player on the end line)

Action: 

Players to pass ball from one end to the other

2 teams playing in a perpendicular direction.   In this example:  

• Reds play east to west
• Blues play north to south 

When ball reaches player at the end line, he enters square and the player who passed to him takes up his space on end line.

First rep: 

Red team plays - blue team stands still; then blue plays while red stands still.  

Quickly progress to P1 below.  

Progressions and regressions: 

P1: Both teams play at the same time

R1: One team plays 

Challenges 

A series of one touch passes (as shown).  Coach players to move and get body shape right in order to receive and play a first time forward pass.

Teams to complete against one another - first team to 6 repetitions (one end to other end = 1 rep)

Passing mechanics (see warm-up)

Receiving (control) mechanics (see warm-up)
Scan to paint a picture of what's around you.

Move to receive 

Body shape to play forward or lay off 

Decisions: play forward, play back, turn

Small sided game

Objectives:

Create opportunities to score using penetration principles (as covered earlier in the session)

Score using first time shots (making use of same penetration principles covered earlier in the session)

24 x 36 metres

Add goal posts at either end

Remove centre cones

6 players per team : 5 + 1 GK

Action: 

Normal game play w no offside

Restrictions: 

Scoring zone is the final third (12 metres as marked by cones)

First touch to score

Progression and regression:

P1: two touch only;

P2: one touch only.

R: Reduce number of players centre and put the extra man on one the attacking end zone either side of goal to play a wall pass back to a team mate to enable a first time shot.  Change this player regularly.  

Coaching points:

As earlier, i.e.  

- passing and receiving mechanics (as earlier)
- scan to know what is around you

- get space

- body shape (to receive to play forward, or lay off to a team mate who can play forward)

- decisions (play forward; pay backward; turn; first time passes v take a touch)

Plus...scoring: 

How to use penetration to create opportunities to score with a first time shot.   E.g. 

- one player to stay high with back to goal and play a wall pass to an advancing team mate (as shown by red)

- fast breaks in wide areas to goal line and cut back to advancing team mate (as shown by blue above)

Time / delay entry to scoring zone to receive pass and score w first time shot

Enter final third at speed to avoid being marked. 

Depending on players engagement reduce restrictions to play a normal game.