Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): AO1 - Breaking Lines - Attacking (Start Time: 2024-10-05 09:30:00)

Session Pitch Set Up

Pitch set up for the session. Attacking session so only half a pitch used with the attacking team scoring in the full sized goal. 

7 v 7 but the attacking team have the additional outfield player with one of the defending team being the keeper.

Two small goals on the half way line for the defending team to score in to simulate breaking with the ball using the wide players 7 and 11 as the targets. 

Players removed

Attacking Team - 1, 2, 3 and 5 - goal keeper and three defenders not needed in the session. 

Defending Team - 7, 11, 9 and 10 - all attacking players removed as not needed in the session. 

Problem 1 - Coach 1 - Carwyn (10 mins)

Breaking the Lines Session - Coach 1

A very quick brief will be given at the start to explain what the session is and how it will be lead. 

7 defending players will be sent off to put on the bibs with Coach 2 supporting and explaining to them the idea for the session. Coach 1 will brief the attacking team using a tactical board to show how he wants the session to progress.  

Plan for attack to break the line - the ball will be played in from 4 to either 6 or 8, in turn this will then draw out 6 or 8 from the defending team to create some space in behind. The attacking team player can then utilise 7 or 11 to play the ball out wide and therefore break line 1. 

the defending team will start closing this down easier by creating overloads to stop this from happening. Therefore the attacking team can then use 4 back in the game to then play out wide. 

Players can then move forward utilising the wings and central area to play the ball forwards. It will be key for the attacking team 6 and 8 to continue to move forward with the play to ensure we maintain the space with the defending team still tracking these players. 

During this time coach 2 will support the defending team to ensure there is a problem that needs resolving. this initial part of the session will be very structured in terms of positioning to ensure there is a strong defensive line to break rather than making it easy to get through, that is why we will have similar numbers in the team to still make it difficult for the attacking team. 

My plan is to let them play and see how they get on and monitor and then intervene as the game is played. Every time the ball goes out or there is a goal scored we start again from the attacking number 4. My coaching technique is to intervene as play is moving. 

I will encourage the attacking team to move quickly to draw the midfield and defenders out in order to create the space. This will be very tough on the players so I will be running this in 2 blocks with a 1 minute interval after 4 minutes to stop and speak to the players and to ensure I change anything I need if the session isn't working and I am not getting the problems we are trying to create. 

Block 2 will then consist of similar play but I will encourage the use of wide players from the number 4 with the 6 and 8 then moving to create space and pull out the opposing player. I will continue to interact with the players as this moves on and will then intervene when necessary using all techniques. Stopping the session, intervening as play continues or stopping, recreating and playing. 

This will be for another 4-5 minutes. Before moving on to Block 2.