Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): 8v8 CONTROL-THE-PITCH GAME

Animation 1

Equipment: 6 mini goals, cones, 3 sets of bibs, 2 poles

FUNCTION

This 8v8 game is played on a full-width pitch that is box-to box, with three mini-goals on each 18-yard line. Two will be placed on the width of the 18-yard box, and a third placed in line with the penalty spot.

The aim of the game is to be the team that has ‘control’ of the most goals.

When a team scores, they then ‘control’ that goal. At the end of the game, the team that has control of the most goals wins.

An example of Team A combining to score in one of the mini-goals is shown in the diagram.

If a team has control of a goal, the other team must then score in that same goal to take over control of it.

If a team scores in a goal they already have control over, the goal becomes free again. This encourages players to scan and concentrate on the game at all times.

If a team scores, they will maintain possession. The ball is fed into the game by the coach.

Play for three blocks of six minutes, with 90 seconds of rest between each block.

To add a fitness component to this exercise, you can place two poles about 5 yards out of bounds at the halfway line. If a player kicks a ball out of bounds, then they must sprint out and around the nearest pole and back in. This will create an overload for a team in certain moments of the game.

PROGRESSION

Progress so players are only able to score from a one-touch finish.

This is to encourage the players to increase the speed of play when they get opportunities, in order to create the space to score.

COACHING DETAIL:

IN POSSESSION

FIRST TOUCH

First-touch detail will be tested through this practice.

In order to control the tempo of the game, the players have to retain possession. Players’ first touches will have to move the ball away from pressure.

When a player wants to speed the game up, the touch will either need to be close, to play a pass quickly, or out of their feet to allow them to inject speed through carrying the ball.

SPEED OF PASS

The tempo of the game can be controlled through the speed of the ball.

If a team wants to slow the tempo down, passes can be played with less speed.

If the in-possession team wants to speed the game up, they will have to play the ball with more speed. Doing this when there is space to exploit will allow the in-possession team to get to that space quicker.

SHORTENING PASSES

To move the ball away from pressure, players can increase the speed of the game by playing shorter passes, which are generally quicker.

The ball will always move quicker than the defenders can run.

Using these shorter passes when a team starts to press will allow the in-possession team to exploit space that is left when the out-of-possession team is pressing.

WALL PASSES

Playing wall passes is another way of increasing the speed of play.

This is a mixture of playing off fewer touches and also playing with short passes.

The ball can be moved around an opponent and eliminate them from the game.

Doing this will allow the in-possession team to exploit space that the team leaves when they start to press.