Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Possession; Receiving in Tight Areas

Intro

The players are split across 2 pitches and play 3v3. The games last 8 minutes and the pitch dimensions are 15 yards wide by 20 yards to make the pitch compact.

The players play the "goal up" game. In this game, a team cannot be more than a goal ahead at any time. If they have a lead they are challenged to retain possession in the attacking half.

At the end of the 8 minutes the teams swap and play against another team, until they have played all 3 teams.

Players are challenged to think about the following two points during the games;

A) How can your pass help your team mate

B) Decide when to pass to feet and when to pass to space

SSG

The pitch is split into 3 zones. The teams are set up in a 1-2-3-1 formation and initially they are partially "locked in" to their areas.

Two passes must be made in midfield before the ball can be played into the final 3rd to score. The striker can go alone 1v2 or a midfielder can join once the ball is transferred to create a 2v2. Once possession is lost the midfielder must recover.

Allow players the opportunity to rotate roles after a few minutes.

To progress, if the GK has the ball, the opposition can send a midfielder forward to create a 2v2, making it more difficult to play out from the back. To avoid an inbalance in midfield one of the defenders can push forward. This then leaves 1v1 at the back. Recovery runs can be made by those players or the nearest players to go back to the original formation.

To finish, set a scenario. One team is overloaded 8v6. The team of 6 are Leicester City and 2-0 up against Chelsea. It is the last game of the season. Leicester must retain their win to qualify for the Champions League, Chelsea must draw to avoid relegation. (Players chose this scenario!)