Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): ATTACKING TRANSITIONS

Screen 1 (5 mins)

Attacking Transition Technical Practise.

The players will be divided into two teams of six players with a Goalkeeper on each team.

To start the practice three RED attackers will enter the practice area and have an attempt at the goal, as soon as the ball is dead or is saved by the Goalkeeper the RED player that touched the ball last will exit the playing area and three BLUE players will drive into the box with the ball creating a 3v2 situation. The practice continues in this format with a rotation of ATTACK - DEFEND - OFF. If the two Defenders win the ball they can attack in an underloaded situation until the ball is dead.

Coaching points

• The players waiting to Attack must react quickly, entering the playing area as soon as the ball is dead to replicate attacking quickly in transition. The Attackers should look to attack before the Defenders have time to regroup.
• Attackers should look to utilise movement to disconnect and isolate the Defenders from each other creating 2v1 situations where ever possible. The Attackers should avoid running in straight lines which makes it easy for the Defenders to get in line with the ball and the goal, by using under and overlapping runs the Attackers can create space for each other and maximise passing lines. 
• The Attacking team must maintain a high tempo to prevent the Defenders from recovering back behind the ball and establishing an organised Defence. 
•  The Attackers must ensure they have a good end product aiming to finish their possession with a shot on target and not waste opportunities to score.

Screen 3 (15 mins)

Attacking transition small Sided Game.

The players will be split into two teams of six outfield players and Goalkeeper. The coach should organise the players to replicate the system best or shape they use within a game.

The coach will feed a ball to one of the teams who must look to build the play and create a goal-scoring opportunity. If the ball is regained in open play the team in possession will have a limited amount of time to score depending on the third the ball is won back in. If the ball goes dead or a goal is scored the coach will feed a ball into the team that will have possession who will then have to try and score within the time constraints. The Coach can vary their coaching position and feed balls into the practice from different areas depending on the returns they would like.

Challenges, Conditions or Targets.

• Ball regained in the Defensive third - A goal scored within 12 seconds of a regain = three goals
• Ball regained in the Middle third - A goal scored within 9 seconds of a regain = three goals.
• Ball regained in the Final third - A goal scored within 5 seconds of a regain = three goals
• If a team scores after the time limit has elapsed it is worth 1 goal.

• Upon regaining possession the player on the ball should look to target the space behind the opposition Defenders and play a teammate in behind. 
• If there is limited space available to play the ball quickly behind the Defending team. The player in possession should look to play a pass to the furthest forward player's feet where they can either dribble or pass and bring other players into the game.
• If the first two options are not available the Attacking team should look to switch the play quickly and change the point of attack, using the fewest amount of passes possible to prevent the Defenders from recovering into a balanced shape.
• At times it will not be possible to progress the attack forward, when this occurs the team in possession should look to retain the ball and establish good possession.Once the ball is regained, the Attacking team must transition from a compact defensive shape to an expansive in-possession shape and make the field as big as possible, creating height width and depth.
• Once possession is regained the Attacking team must capitalise on the disorganization within the Defending team by moving the ball quickly into space or feet. The Attackers must ensure they have created support behind, to the side and ahead of the player with the ball in order to keep the tempo and momentum of the attack. 
•  The Attacking team must utilise quick forward movement from both behind and in front of the player with the ball. Players from behind the line of the ball must make runs beyond the player with the ball whilst players ahead of the ball threaten the space beyond the last defensive line. The Attackers should look to make runs that isolate the Defenders in 2v1 and 3v2 situations as often as possible.During the Attacking Transition, the player in possession must maintain the speed of attack to exploit the space created on the field. The player should look to beat the engaging Defender quickly with creative "beat-the-feet" moves and cleverly disguised passes. The Attacking team should look to penetrate as quickly as possible with passes, runs or dribbles that break lines and allow the fastest route to the goal.