Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): U11/13 Utilising/ exploiting half space
FAW Coach Ed
Samuel Holmshaw
Description
Date: 30/12/24 - Age of players: U11/13 - Number of players: 18 - Ability level: Academy - Duration of season: 90 minutes Pitch: 7-a-side
Phase: In possession (sub-phase: retaining the ball)
Topic delivered: Exploiting the half space
Practice structure: Blocked, skill, games based.
Session objectives
All: Players will be able to recognise the half space area
Most: Players will be able to recognise the half space area, and utilise this space to receive the ball
Some: Players will work together to utilise the half space, If a player in the team moves into the half space, the other player moves into the wide space.
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.
To start: Players pass the ball in a clockwise direction, Players are stationary. Rotate to anti-clockwise after 3 minutes.
Condition: players are stationary on the cones, they can drop off to recieve but play a ball in a clockwise direction.
Coaching points (technical):
Passing and receiving mechanics
- Approach angle to receive
- Back foot recieve
- Body shape
- Breaking lines
- Ball speed
Adaptations (progressions or regressions)
Progression 1 - Players can now move the ball in any direction, but still remain stationary.
Progression 2 - Players now follow their pass (player 8 will switch the ball to player 1 - stood in player 2s position to restart).
Challenges, Conditions or Targets:
Challenge - What different type of passes can we do?
Challenge - Can we make 20 successful passes without playing a ball off target?
Challenge (progression) - Can we complete a rotation inside 60 seconds?
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
To Start:
The activity now changes to incorporate more build up play ultilising the half and wide spaces. Now only 4 players are active in the drill, so move the spare players behind player 1 (start player) as shown in the diagram. As shown on the diagram, players pass the ball (following the black arrow), and now include movement off the ball (following red arrow).
The activity incorporates many 'one-two' play.
Players should wait for a full rotation before restarting.
Coaching points (technical):
Passing and recieving
- Angle to receive the ball, drop off the cone
- Back foot recieve
- Body shape
- Breaking lines
- Ball speed
Adaptations (progressions or regressions)
Progression 1 - After 3 minutes, Spare players do not have to wait for a full rotation to restart, play can start every half rotation (i.e when the ball reaches player 3 (list player 3).
Progression 2 - Remove the cones, players are now free to move, they attempt the pattern of play without the cones.
Progression 3 - the spare players now are 'defenders' and mark players 2 and 4, they do not tackle the players, but just add pressure by following their movements.
Challenges, Conditions or Targets:
Condition 1 - 2 touch
Condition 2 - 1 touch
Challenges - Who can be the first team to complete 2 rotations without any passing errors? Coach may double rotations each time if players complete (i.e 4, 8 without passing errors).
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Split the group into two teams of 8, one player of which acts as the goalkeeper in the main goal.
To Start: The attacking team has the objective to score in the main goal. The defending team attempts to score in either of the two smaller goals. Only the goalkeeper in the main net can use their hands.
Coach always starts play from the position shown by playing a ball to one of the players on the attacking team. Play resumes until the ball goes out, if the ball goes out of the area, coach always restarts play.
Coaching points: No two players should be in the half-space or wide-space at the same time.
Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):
Regression 1: Add an unopposed element - coach plays the ball to a player in the central space, the opposition cannot attempt to win the ball until the ball has been transferred to the wide and half space, or half then wide space.
Challenges, Conditions or Targets:
Target - The attacking team can only score a goal either from a shot from within the half-space position, or an assist from the half space position.
Challenge - attacking team - can we score by progressing the ball forwards from the central, half and wide spaces?
Condition (if regression made) - Two players from the attacking team can only stay within the half-space area.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Set up: Keep the half space area from the previous activity. Bring both nets forwards to the edge of the 16-yard box goal mouth. Use the full width of the pitch as shown.
Position balls at either goal, if the red team looses the ball, play restarts from the blue net, if the blue team looses the ball, play restarts from the red net.
Conditions: Each team has:
- Three players positioned in the central space
- Two players each positioned in the half space
- Two players positioned in the wide spaces
Players can only stay within each designated space.
Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):
Progression
- Players positioned in the right wide space can now move into the right half space.
- Players positioned in the left wide space can now move into the left half space.
- Players positioned in the right half space can move into the right wide space or the centre space.
- Players positioned in the left half-space can move into the left wide space or the centre space.
- Players in the centre space can now move into the right half space or the left half space.
Coaching points (After progression)
- No two players should be in the half-space or wide-space at the same time.
- Can we consider rotations, particularly for players in the half and wide space.
Challenges, Conditions or Targets:
Target - Can we score a goal either from the half-space position, or create an assist from the half-space position?
Challenge - Can we build up play from transferring the ball from the central, half and wide spaces?
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Rules: Players can now move freely around the pitch, simulate all rules from the 7 vs 7 game.
Coaching points
- No two players should be in the half-space or wide-space at the same time.
- Can we consider rotations, particularly for players in the half and wide space.
Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):
Regression/ condition - may add a condition where two players stay in the half spaces for each team
Challenges, Conditions or Targets:
Target - Can we score a goal either from the half-space position, or create an assist from the half-space position?
Challenge - Can we build up play from transferring the ball from the central, half and wide spaces?
Play animation
Play step-by-step
Repeat (toggle)
Full Screen
Pause
Stop
Set up:
On the 7 vs 7 pitch, set up the half space area as shown using flat markers.
For technical 1 and 2 - use and position cones as shown on the diagram, distributed between the wide and half-spaces to set up the passing routine. Pick up after technical 2
For skill practice 1 - add two mini goals at the 2/3rd line of pitch. Leave the half space markers from the previous activity.
For skill practice 2, add the mini goals at the edge of the 16 yard area (both sides).
For conditioned game - play the full pitch and remove all cones.
Equipment required:
Cones
Spot markers
12 x balls
8 x 1 colour bibs
8 x 1 colour bibs