Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): PRINCIPLES OF PLAY

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Name:	Nick Powell
City:	Leeds
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

System of play.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): ROLES

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ROLES

PLAYER PROFILE & KEY ROLES IN OPEN PLAY.

GK (Goalkeeper)

in possession - offers a linking pass for defenders facing our goal

out of possession - anticipates and sweeps through balls allowing defence to play a high line

LWB & RWB (left wing back, right wing back)

in possession - Join the attack to create an overload and aims to get to the bye line.

out of possession - engage high up the pitch when the ball is on their side. Tuck in as an end of line sweeper when it's on the opposite side.

RCB & LCB (left centre back & right centre back)

in possession - create passing options for others, provide security, if there is space, step into midfield with the ball.

out of possession - attack the ball on the front foot, move across to cover the space the wing back leaves.

CB (centre back)

in possession - Positioning is key for rest of team. Be a passing option for LCB and RCB, step into midfield with the ball.

out of possession - Deepest player sweeping behind both LCB and RCB; manage the offside line.

LCM & RCM (left centre midfielder & right centre midfielder

in possession - link defence and attack, short, sharp forward passing.

out of possession - win the ball back in the recycle (2nd ball) zone to stop the opposition getting out; track their midfield runners.

CAM (central attacking midfielder)

in possession - play in the gap between their defence and midfield. Look to link play. Shoot and assist. Join the strikers in the box.

out of possession - set traps for their deepest midfielders (this means don't mark tightly, encourage their defenders to pass into their deepest midfielder by giving him just enough space, but read the triggers and close the space down quickly. Back up the pressing strikers).

RF & LF (right forward & left forward)

in possession - attack the space between the full back and centre back, link with the CAM and other striker, be on the six yard line to attack low hard crosses from the bye line.

out of possession - fast press (as a trio with CAM), create chances (shots and assists), pounce on rebounds.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): ZONES

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ZONES

UNDERSTANDING THE ZONES

In all phases of play there are 3 zones to think about.

1. Target Zones - where are we trying to get the ball? (GREEN)

2. Recycle Zone - where is it likely that the ball will go next? We need to have 2 (at least players) ready to dominate this zone (ORANGE)

3. Vulnerable Zone - where is the risk? (If we are creating an overload around the ball, there wil be an area that is vulnerable to a long pass. (RED)

In this example the ball is high on the left of the pitch. We are looking to get the ball in behind their right back into the target zone (for a cross or shot). If we lose possession here it is likely that the ball will next go into the recycle zone (with a hurried clearance if we press quickly), so we need to have enough players in here to win the ball back and restart the attack. If we don't press well enough (or if it is played back to their keeper who kicks it long) we need to be ready to move to defend the vulnerable zone quickly. The RWB is in position to anticipate this - the rest of the team need to move across quickly to help if this happens.

The shape is the same in or out of possession. Our wingback is high, giving us more men around the ball than them. The LCB, CB and RB have moved across. The RWB is aware of the vulnerable zone behind him and ready to deal with any long ball into this zone.

The furthest player from the ball will be the one who is ready for the ball into the vulnerable zone. His job then is to either attack the ball, or if he can't get the ball, to slow their player down with patient defending, giving the rest of the team the time to get across and help.