Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 1v1 CB & Striker passing & finishing.

Screen 1

Set Up: Pitch width of 18-yard box & 30 yards long. 2 target goals placed on top line, 8 yards in from touchline. Red striker in middle of target goals facing big goal. 2 wide players on outside of area with balls.

Blue def move forward with the ball to the 18-yard box line & attempt to play a pass into one of the top target goals. Once the centre-back has attempted to score in one of the target goals, yellow play a pass to red who attacks the big goal. The defender makes a recovery run & attempts to block the shot. 

Progressions: Yellow dribbles down the line & attempts to cross for Red to score who has made a forward run into box.

Key Points: 

• 1v1 Defending 
•  The defender should be encouraged to prevent the striker from turning and show patience to try and control the 1v1 situation. 
• This can be done by not diving into tackles and not getting too tight to the attacker to be rolled. 
• The defender also needs to be aware of which foot they tackle with, and always be ready to run and defend the space behind incase the striker attempts a quick turn.
• Attacking
• FIRST TOUCH & TURNING 
• The first touch of the striker should be to move the defender. Once they have done this, they can look to turn and front the defender up to go 1v1. For example, the first touch may go backwards in order to quickly pivot on the ball to face 1v1. 
• The striker can also use the defender’s momentum against them, moving them one way before quickly moving in the opposite direction. 
• ROLLING THE DEFENDER• If the defender gets too tight, the striker should look to roll them. This can be done by positioning their body between the defender and the ball, then attempting to swivel while still protecting the ball to get into space. 
• SHIFT & SHOOT 
• The striker is attempting to create a small amount of space to allow them to shoot. This means they do not have to go past the defender to get success in this practice. 
• Strikers should be encouraged to shift the ball into space and shoot as quickly as possible, which stops the defender from blocking and prevents the goalkeeper from setting before the shot. This movement should be completed as quickly as possible