Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 1v1 session

Screen 1

Start with 1v1 with no football 

Key points 

-Be patient, no time limits on the drill 

-The change of direction has to be quick to create space

-All about creating as much space between you and the defender as possible

2 blocks

Attacker trying to fake the defender to go one way and then beat them to the cone, 3 reps attacking, 3 defending

3 blocks

Same again except this time both players have a football, not going past the cone though its stop it on the cone. Can talk about buying yourself 1 second, 1/2 second based on how much they beat the defender to the cone by, use this as currency in the drill

Coaching points - 

- If your eyes are on the ball you can't see where the defender is going, get your ball mastery to a high enough level to the point you can do this with your head up. Best attackers will be able to face up a defender and look at them at the same time. 

-Recognise once you've beat them, that's your window to exit out and change direction

-If you throw a skill and it doens't work, throw something else, wait for your moment, learn to read your opponent 

Final set 

defender now doesn't have a ball, much harder for the attacker now 

Coaching points

Attacker

- be brave, send them to the shops

- The more emphasis and energy you put into that skill, the more effective it will become

-Know when to use that energy to accelerate out at the right time

-When you change your speed, they'll change their speed. The faster the change of direction is, the better the opportunity to send the defender to the shops

-Be unpredictable

Defender 

- Low, light, watch the ball not the feet 

Screen 3

Football punched into attacker, attacker must beat the defender and score in either mini goal. 

Coaching points 

-This drill doesn't work without winners, winners in defence and winners in attack - be aggressive. 

Defenders 

- If you're pressing at 70,80,90% the attacker's going to win it every time. 

-Lay a glove on them, don't give them too much space, if you never touch them you make it very easy for them 

Attackers 

-Good first touch is so important, if the ball isn't under control, unless you're lily billingham, you can't do anything with it.

-It's all about trying to create as much space as possible to beat the defender and send them to the shops