Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): IP8 - Final Third

SSG

SSG (3 x 10 mins): Final Third

Setup

• Half pitch: Corners tapered to midfield with a full-sized goal on either side.
• Format: 9v8
• Formations: RED: 2-3-3 (from 4-3-3), BLUE: 4-2-1 (from 4-4-2)
• The red GK (green) plays a ball in to the the reds, who are looking to finish the attack in the final third with a goal. If the defending team wins the ball, they can score in the halfway goal within 10 seconds.

Block 1

The blue team are playing in a mid block, so do not press the two red CBs. Once the ball moves from beyond the red defensive unit, then the blues can press. The problem this creates for the reds is that although they may have more time on the ball, they are forced to play further away from the opposition goal and therefore need to move the ball quickly and effectively in order to break through the lines and attack the goal.

Block 2

In this block, the blue team can press the red CBs and therefore are engaging in a high press. In this case, the problem facing the blues is that they have less time to move the ball around at the back. Therefore, they must use split passes to get past the pressing midfield unit and then utilise the space in behind the defense if they are playing a high line, or the space between the units of the blue team and create overloads if the defense is sitting back.

This block is free play where the understanding of the principles coached can be evaluated.

Challenges:

1) If Red team lose the ball, win it back in 6 seconds. Scoring a goal off of a defending transition within the 6 second rule will count as 3 points instead of 1.

2) Goal scored outside the box is 2 points, Goal scored off of a cross and finish is 3 points

3) If Blue team loses the ball, win it back in 6 seconds. Scoring a goal off of a defending transition within the 6 second rule will count as 2 points instead of 1.