Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Attacking in the final 3rd

1 v 1 Opposed (15 mins)

Objective

Improve 1 v 1 attacking and defending 

Organization

• In this practice, players are split into three even groups of four. Each channel is 20x12 yards.

• This practice sees a competitive 1v1 toward a mini-goal in each of the three channels that is initiated by a pass from the eventual defender to the attacker.

• In the example here, Player A is the eventual defender. He plays to Player B, who then tries to beat Player A in a 1v1 toward the mini-goal.

• Should the defender regain possession, their outlet pass is to the waiting attacker. Here, if Player A wins possession from Player B, they must attempt to pass to Player D.

• After each completion of a 1v1, the attacking player joins the defenders’ queue, while the defending player joins the attackers’ queue.

Coaching Points



1v1 DEFENDING

• Players should be encouraged to be tough to beat in a 1v1; they should attempt to force the attacker one way before making contact with them, using their leading arm where appropriate.

• Players should seek to identify the triggers that lead to their regain of possession; these could be heavy or misplaced touches.

• • Players should be ruthless in attempting to beat the opposition defender.

• • They should not seek to beat them twice, but attempt to score immediately after doing so the first time.

Interval Duration

5 v 3 to goal (20 mins)

Objective 

To improve creating scoring opportunities  

Organization

• This practice is an opposed 3v3 in which players are unrestricted.

• There are four teams of three; six players play while a team of defenders and a team of attackers rest.

• The goalkeeper initiates each attack by playing into the attacking Team A. As he does so, from a set start position, the defending Team B must get up and prepare to engage the three attackers as far from goal as appropriate.

• The attacking team must attempt to stay onside.

• Team B must attempt to steal the ball from Team A. If

  they do so, their targets become the two mini-goals

  positioned in front of them.

• As each attack concludes, the defending team replaces

  the waiting attacking team (Team C) and the attacking team replaces the waiting defending team (Team D).

  FUNCTION 2

• A variation of the practice sees the goalkeeper play to the waiting defenders, who play first time into the set of attackers who then start their attack from a back-to-goal situation.

Coaching Points

USE THE SPACE

• Attacking players should be encouraged to use the space in front of them positively; they should build speed and momentum that can be used to engage defenders.

• This may provide cues to slide to a teammate as the defender makes a commitment to tackle, or to beat them 1v1.

  POSITIVITY IN 1v1 SITUATIONS

• As 1v1 situations present themselves for attackers, they should be encouraged to demonstrate a positive mentality and try to beat defenders 1v1 in order to create opportunities to score or assist.

FINDING SPACE TO SHOOT

• As the practice moves on to emphasise the back-to- goal situation for forwards, the coach should encourage creativity among the attacking players in order to find sufficient space to work quick shots.

• More unorthodox shooting techniques, such as toe- pokes, might be required to make use of split-second shooting opportunities.

  RUN TIMING & VARIATION

• Attackers should be encouraged to make a variety of runs. Emphasis should be placed on decoy runs, being onside and not making the same type of run as another attacker.