Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 7 a side Attacking - Chaos Games Session

Stadium Game (15 mins)

Set Up:

x 2 areas 

Get players to choose a team/stadium

home stadium for red is red side 

home stadium for yellow is yellow side

The game requires players to take the ball off an opponent before travelling quickly with it into a designated area, their home stadium, and then keeping it there by using their hiding and maneuvering skills. 

This is perfect for developing a confidence and a connection with the ball.

The game is physically demanding, so carefully adjust the distances and areas so that each stadium represents an appropriate challenge. 

Match players up in different ways to ensure each player is challenged in a way that excites and motivates them.

Coaching Points:

1v1's

ball manipulation

hiding and carrying the ball

Technical Zig Zag (15 mins)

Session Set-up:

• Put players into teams
• Players dribble cone to cone. Coach decides based on session topic how players move from cone to cone.
• Include relay races

Coaching Points:

See Twin Cities Rush Age Group Development Goals for your age group.

Progressions:

• Different varieties of dribbling and turning.

Multi directional small sided game (20 mins)

Set Up:

Split the pitch into three equal channels in a 25 x 25 area with four goals at either side of the pitch.

Organise two teams that are playing against each other horizontally and must be inside the final third to score

You will also need to organise another two teams that are playing laterally and must stay inside the central channel during their game. 

Rotate the teams to play on the different pitches as they will provide varying challenges and outcomes based around the topic.

Progression:

The two teams attacking laterally can also use the full width / length of the pitch rather than being limited to just the central area

Regression

Set up these two pitches next to each other or reduce the number of players which will limit the amount of traffic

Coaching Points: 

 Decision Making (Finding The Overload) – As there will be lots of traffic with two games being played across the same pitch it will force players to continually scan and look for their team mates, space and opposition. Players should look to identify where the overloads are to help them to create goal scoring opportunities. Players also need to recognise when is the right time to get shots away and should aim to finish quickly particularly in and around the goal

Speed Of Attack – The attacking team should look to play quickly particularly on the wider pitch as there will be lots of space to exploit between defenders as well as in wide areas. In and around the goal, if the defending team isn’t organised they should look to move the ball quickly to get shots at goal. If the defenders are compact, the attacking team should be patient in possession and wait for the right opportunity to penetrate/have an attempt at goal.

Timing Of Run – If the ball is played out wide the attackers should look to hold their run to get into the box at the right time which may lead to finishes from wide areas. Also, players may look to run in advance of the ball to try and break lines by receiving through passes or passes over the top of the defence as well.

Finishing Technique – In the game which is being played horizontally, this pitch is wider which will enable attackers to finish from wide areas but also find more space between the defending team too. In the game that is being played vertically, due to how tight the area is players should be encouraged to finish quickly off the fewest amount of touches particularly in and around the box. As there will be lots of traffic, players should aim to get shots off quickly.