Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): u16+u18 Sutherland Sharks Counter-Attacking and Separation (Start Time: 2024-07-31 17:30:00)

Quick Combination Drill (20 mins)

Variation 1) Outside players stay. Outside players seperate to create diagonal passing options, then nearest sets, central players passes to next player who sets and then central player plays through to the next line. 

Variation 2) Central player plays to outside player and then starts an overlapping run, outside player players to other outside player who then passes in the overlapping player who plays to next line and runs through. 

Aims:

- Quick 1 or 2 touch firm passes.

- Play into back foot and pass with furthest foot from receiving direction.

- First few rotations are at a reasonable pass to get technical aspects understood, then it speeds up and players are expected to run quicker after passes to their destinations.

- Verbal, non-verbal and passing information should be used. Encourage players to give information to help teammates. 

- Work on open body orientation and angled runs when starting to do overlapping runs so hips are facing passing target. 

8 vs 8 (30 mins)

3-3-2 vs 3-1-4

Reasons:

- WSW will defend in a 4-4-2, high press, looking to pressure ball carrier and lock in play by cutting of the switch back through the box. Allows 

- 3-1-4 formation allows players to work on splitting the defender and creating separation to receive and combine to progress the ball forward 

- A top line of 3 for the green team allows players to naturally get wide and look to create maximum width in attack. If the oppositions fullbacks look to join attack, wide players will have space to attack quickly. 

- 3-1-4 formation looks to encourage using wide areas, where we expect the game to be mostly played.

NOTE: Balls to be placed around outside of field so players can take quick throw-ins. SSFC vs St George FA u18's saw a lot of possession turned over from throw-ins. 

Aim:

- Look to combine and make progressive passes to move the ball forward and create goal scoring opportunities. 

- Forward runs by fullbacks of either side to help create overloads and create goal scoring opportunities.

- Encourage crosses and cutbacks if on, encourage runners in the box to increase scoring possibilities.

- When ball is lost, defensive team must look to get compact and in distinct lines to protect the central corridor.

- Look to create separation and limit vertical and horizontal balls, promote getting free enough to have an open body orientation to promote progressive plays. 

- If ball is won in middle third, can we look to find forward lying players and look to use third man actions to quickly counterattack and create goal scoring opportunities.