Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): In Possession - Breaking down a Low Block

Warm Up - Wave Technical Practise Attacking in the Final Third (15 mins)

Set Up

• minimum of 5 players
• Mannequins or use cones
• Half of pitch
• 1 Goal
• Bibs
• Balls

Organisation

Set up the image as seen above with 6 mannequins in half the field.

3 teams in different colours. One team starts and sets up in a 2-3 formation, replicating a 1-4-3-3 formation, close to the nearest 4 mannequins.

Link to matchday formation.

One player from the other team plays to one of the Centre Midfielders (8 or 10) who then plays to one of the Wingers to receive and cross. At the same time as the Winger receiving, attackers need to get into positions to receive the ball depending on the crossing position and type.

Once one team has attacked, the next team sets up in the same positions to start the exercise again. Repeat the same technical exercise for each team 4 times, changing sides to cross from.

Primary Unit

Centre Midfielders (8 &10)

Centre Midfielders should look to play support the attack and offer if the cross isn't available. One Centre Midfielder should also look to attack the edge of the box if there is a crossing opportunity.

Secondary Unit

Wingers (7 & 11)

Wingers need to stay wide on the outside shoulder of the Full Back (mannequin) when the ball is central. When the ball goes wide, the opposite Winger should come on the inside between the Centre Back and the Full Back to prepare their position to enter the box. When the cross is set up, Wingers need to either cross over with the Striker or go to the back post.

Tertiary Unit

Striker (9)

Strikers need to be on the blind side of the Centre Backs nearest to the ball. If the ball is played back to the Centre Midfielder instead of the cross, Strikers can make runs behind the Centre Back. If the cross is available, Strikers need to work with the Winger to be in a position to attack the near post or the far post.

Breaking Down a Low Block - Phase of Play (25 mins)

Set Up

• Minimum of 13 players
• Flat discs to mark out zones
• 1 goal
• Balls
• Bibs
• Half of pitch

Organisation

Set up the area shown in the practice diagram. Divide the field into five vertical channels and mark an offside line that runs the width of the field in line with the edge of the 18-yard box. Place two medium-sized goals on the halfway line and outside of the playing area.

The players will be split into a team of six (Red) and a team of eight (Blue). The Red team will consist of three Midfield players (4,8,10) and three attacking Players (7,9,11). The Blue team will consist of a Goalkeeper (1), four Defenders (2,3,5,6) and three Midfield players (4,8,10).

To start the practice, the coach will play a ball to the Red team who must look to break down the Blue team's Low Block and create a goal-scoring opportunity. The Red's player's movement is restricted with Red 7 and 11 locked into areas one and three and Red 4,8,10,9 locked into area two, once the ball crosses the offside line the Red team are free to attack the box with movements that are the most appropriate. If the Red team pass the ball back across the offside line to retain possession, all players must return to their allocated areas. The Blue team have free movement across the field. If the Red team score they will return to their starting positions and the coach will feed them another ball. If the Blue team can regain possession they should look to score as quickly as possible into one of the two goals positioned on the halfway line. The Blue team should look to score in these areas as quickly as possible replicating a direct counterattack.

Primary Unit

7 and 11 - Red 7 and 11 must stretch the game and create width in channels one and five. They should look to take up positions level with the Defensive line and off the shoulders of Blue 2 and 3 where the Defenders cannot see them and the ball at the same time. When Red 8 and 10 have the ball at their feet, the ball side winger should look to make a run behind the Full back into channels two and four where they can pull the ball back across the face of the goal. If the two Red wingers receive the ball to feet and have space they should look to drive beyond the defensive line and deliver into the box. If the Blue Defenders are sliding across and Red 7 and 11 can see that the Blue ball side Centre back is not providing cover, they can slide a pass behind the ball side Full Back for the run of Red 8 or 10.

Secondary Unit

9- Red 9 should look to primarily operate in channel three, looking to make runs off the back of the Blue Central Defenders and into a central goal-scoring position. Red 9 must also look to link play, receiving passes from Red 4 and linking with Red 10 and 8, playing one-twos around Defenders and third-player combinations.

Tertiary Unit

4,8 &10 - Red 4 must serve as a pressure relief valve for the Attacking team. Operating in channels two, three and four, Red 4 must support below the line of the ball where they can receive a backward pass, retain possession or switch the point of attack from winger to winger. Red 4 should also look for passes into Red 10 and 8's feet where they can receive off the shoulder and between the lines. Although it may happen rarely, Red 4 should look to connect with Red 9 wherever possible.

Attacking Principles

Penetration

Creating space

Movement

Providing Support

Creativity