Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Week 2 (Monday) Game Based Constraint Lead Training - Playing Through The Thirds (Start Time: 2025-01-13 17:00:00)

Profile Summary

Name:	Robert Spour
City:	Gainsborough
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Topic: Playing through the thirds.

Intentions:

The session focuses on building up play. Progressing the ball through the thirds. The session will work on building up play from the goalkeeper looking at playing forward quickly and with intention to create scoring chances. Not only do we want to see forward thinking play, where we advantage the ball quickly and with purpose but players should follow and support the play. Session focus will be on the IP (Attacking principles of play). Individual framework within the session will be receiving. Through session design, and situational coaching players will be encouraged to use suitable receiving styles to break lines, eliminate players, and penetrate forward with intent.

Principles of Play: The session by design will bring out all principles of play because it is game based led and all principles of play are evident in a game situation. The coaching focus will be aimed around the attacking principles.

A real focus should be on supporting play, Creating space, with an constant theme of playing to penetrate.

Core Technical Skills:

Receiving is the key individual framework of focus for this session. The session design and coaching emphasises will see all core technical skills applied and challenged throughout the session but a real focus from the coaches should be on the individual framework topic (receiving). secondary focus on, Passing, and scanning.

Player Engagement:

Game based sessions look and feel like football. Players love to play so there is a natural by-in from the design. By challenging the players in a fun, yet competitive environment engagement levels will be maintained throughout. Though positive reinforcement and praise towards the players that make positive intentions towards the learning outcomes and objectives the children will thrive off extrinsic motivation. Not all outcomes will be successful (and that's ok) but emphasis on progression of actions and understanding throughout the session (when deserved) will rewards the players.

Coach Behaviours:

Clear explanations, and demos to set the scene and expectations of each phase of the session. Use pre-considered and prepared questions to enforce learning and confirm understanding of session intentions and outcomes. Trust the session design, game based won't always look pretty. Allow the players time to learn, and adapt from doing. Pause, stand still interventions may be required. However, stopping play should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. If the information behind presented by the coach isn't for the benefit of all then is stop, standstill the correct intervention? Plan and intent to use the natural rest periods, or dead ball moments to coach. Players that are intrinsically motivated become natural winners. All the game and goals to be the motivator as much as possible. Reward with praise for intention when deserved by don't over use these rewards as they lose value.

Safety Considerations: Weather conditions if cold. High intensity session expected, so hydration and rest periods to allow that the children remain focused and playing at a high and challenging tempo.

Additional Notes:

Prior Planning (Extra):

Prior to the session re-read session plan to have a really clear idea of the sessions intentions, coaching points, and questions to pose to the children. Be prepared to coach what you see reflect be(for) the session and consider what challenges may arise? Where might the children struggle to find solutions? What are the common mistakes, and coaching points that we may expect to see come out from the session design?

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Phase 1

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Learning Objectives

	Technical Can players secure under pressure? Should see an understanding in how to move to space to support play. Utilising fast combination play and good receiving styles and shapes to play forward.
	Tactical Demonstrating an understanding of how to support play as it progresses up the pitch. Time of passes to eliminate opposition players. Communicating non-verbally with the environment, teammates, and the opposition.
	Physical Receiving shapes. ABCs. Run, and moving constantly. Lots of short sprints. High Intensity.
	Psychological Can players play through mistakes? Are challenges visibly being accepted and players looking for solutions? Are they applying the coaching and confirming learning through actions, and Q and A interventions?
	Social Communication verbally with team mates. Problem solving, individually and as a team. Leadership, guide and assist team mates.

Phase 1 (30 mins)

Title: Arrival SSGs Game based - Constraint Lead.

Practice Spectrum:Opposed. Directional. Match Up, or Attacking Overload (depending on numbers, and challange)

STEP:

S: L26xW15 (Width have the size of a usual pitch but with numbers replicates space and time charachteristics of a game)
T: 30 minutes (10 minutes, arrival.When all arrived, call in for session intro and explanation of phase one/ 18-20 Minutes, W5 R1 * 3)
E: Goals, Cones, Discs, Bibs, Balls, White Board.
P: 3v3+1 (magic man) across two pitches. Remove magic man if numbers don't permit.

Explanation Of Phase: (Aim W/W/W/H)

This phase will start to introduce the ideas of tonight's topic and creating problems for the players to solve, Constraints will be used to draw out learning objectives and create references that will influence players future decision making. This first phase will see the attacking team starting with the ball on their own goal line. The objective is to play forward and through the thirds of the pitch to create and exploit spaces and penetrate the opposition with the outcome intention creating chances/scoring goals.

Constant constraints within the practice:

Players allocated to a third. A player can only leave the zone if they are the IP team and have played the ball forward, the player can then move forward with the play 1 third to support the attack and create combination opportunities, promoting quick attacking phases. Once the ball goes dead, the player must return to their starting third.

Goals can only be score in the final third.

A player attempting to score must do it in two touches or less.

Block 1: Play with the constraints as per above.

Block 2: A one touch pass in the middle third in to the final third that assists a goal = 3 goals.

Block 3: If a team scores they start with the ball again. Scoring with a move consisting of three passes or less = 5 goals., 5 passes or less = 3 goals.

Questions:

Challenges:

Can we be constantly supporting play by offering clear progress lines to our team mate?

Can we receive with a body position that allows for continued progression of the ball?

Once we've passed the ball to a team mate can we immediately support the play with our movement?

We shouldn't be standing still in this practice, if you catch yourself static question what could/should I be doing for my team?

Coaching Points:

Timing of pass to eliminate players when they press and create more space and time for teammates. Movement to improve angles, ease of ball progress. Movement after the pass to support play, and create successful 2 player combos, and third man runs.

External Factors:

Weather. Arrival numbers. Training numbers (compared to plan) Plan to manage these as necessary.

Interventions:

Whole group interventions utilising rest periods.

Ask the players what worked well within the block. What did they apply well?

How did they try to over come the problems within the game?

Use prepared questions and coaching points to build on the practical learning and see an improvement of Communication (perception at team level) Decision making, and executing of decisions.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Phase 2

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Learning Objectives

	Technical Can players secure under pressure? Should see an understanding in how to move to space to support play. Utilising fast combination play and good receiving styles and shapes to play forward.
	Tactical Demonstrating an understanding of how to support play as it progresses up the pitch. Time of passes to eliminate opposition players. Communicating non-verbally with the environment, teammates, and the opposition.
	Physical Receiving shapes. ABCs. Run, and moving constantly. Lots of short sprints. High Intensity.
	Psychological Can players play through mistakes? Are challenges visibly being accepted and players looking for solutions? Are they applying the coaching and confirming learning through actions, and Q and A interventions?
	Social Communication verbally with team mates. Problem solving, individually and as a team. Leadership, guide and assist team mates.

Phase 2

Title: End zone - Fast Forward Combination Play

Practice Spectrum: Opposed. Directional. Match up ideally. Play with attacking overload using magic man if numbers dictate or challenge needs regressing.

STEP:

S: Use the same area as previous drill just reduce endzones length to 5m (paces). Don't be afraid to alter S as practices is taking place to adapt to practice and desired outcomes.
T: 30 minutes in 6 blocks, W4mins R1min Rotating teams so each colour works in endzones.
E: Cones, Flats, Bibs, Balls.
P: 2v2+2 if 6 players. Either overload middle third if numbers low, or add magic man if numbers high. Play on two pitches.

Explanation Of Phase: (Aim W/W/W/H)
An endzone game where goals are scored by the attacking team progressing the ball from one side (end) to the other. For every time the progress the ball from one end zone, to the other they get a goal (point). If the successfully move the ball from one endzone to the other they can immediately attack the other way. Meaning the quicker and more positive they are the more goals they'll score in 4 minutes. By making good decisions and dominating possession they control the game and prevent the other team and opportunity to score while also using the ball to force the opposition to sprint more, causing fatigue.

Constrains:

For the first 3 blocks, endzones can't be pressed in to their end zone..

For the second 3 blocks the end zone can be pressed in their end zone. (What are the implications?)

If the ball is moved from one end zone to the other using a one touch pass in the middle 3 goals.

If the ball is moved from end zone to end zone with a two player combo in the middle third 2 goals.

Questions:

what attacking principles can we apply to help our team?

why do you think we are giving 3 goals for a one touch pass between end zones in the middle third?

How can you create and exploit more space to play forward?

If you played this again what would you do the same, why?

What would you try to do differently, how would that improve outcomes?

What implications did pressing have?

How did that impact you decisions (attacking teams)? (defending teams)?

Challenges:

Can you prevent the other team from scoring by dominating the ball?

If we lose it, how quickly can we win it back?

Can we keep the ball within the lines, don't let it go out of play!

Coaching Points:

Receiving (body position)

Off the ball movement.

Predicting the next phase of the play.

When not to force the play.

External Factors:

Weather. Arrival numbers. Training numbers (compared to plan) Plan to manage these as necessary.

Interventions:

Whole group interventions utilising rest periods.

Ask the players what worked well within the block. What did they apply well?

How did they try to over come the problems within the game?

Use prepared questions and coaching points to build on the practical learning and see an improvement of Communication (perception at team level) Decision making, and executing of decisions.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Phase 3

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

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Learning Objectives

	Technical Can players secure under pressure? Should see an understanding in how to move to space to support play. Utilising fast combination play and good receiving styles and shapes to play forward.
	Tactical Demonstrating an understanding of how to support play as it progresses up the pitch. Time of passes to eliminate opposition players. Communicating non-verbally with the environment, teammates, and the opposition.
	Physical Receiving shapes. ABCs. Run, and moving constantly. Lots of short sprints. High Intensity.
	Psychological Can players play through mistakes? Are challenges visibly being accepted and players looking for solutions? Are they applying the coaching and confirming learning through actions, and Q and A interventions?
	Social Communication verbally with team mates. Problem solving, individually and as a team. Leadership, guide and assist team mates.

Phase 3 (30 mins)

Title: Match, applying tonight's learning to a game.

Practice Spectrum: Opposed. Directional. Match-up.

STEP:

S: 36 x 30m
T: 30 minutes
E: Goals, Discs, Flats, Bibs, Goals
P: 6v6 or 7v7 depending on numbers

Explanation Of Phase: (Aim W/W/W/H)

A game with set conditions and constraint to test how the players apply tonight's learning to have positive outcomes in different scenarios. Can we see a practical display of good understanding of coaching points? Q and A at end to confirm takeaways.

Block 1:

(Constraints) Keepers can't be challenged in their own box. Score in 3 passes or less from GK for 3 goals. W6 mins R1min

Block 2:

Free play with exception of a one touch pass to assist = 3 goals. W6 minutes R1min

Block 3: W4 R1 * 2. One team is challenged that there is 4 minutes to go and they are 2 nil down. Can they play fast forward thinking football without being wasteful. Manage the pressure.

Finish last 5 minutes with running then wash-up with players.

Questions:

What have we learned tonight? Give me one positive and one thing you'll do differently next time to improve?

How did we deal with being 2 down? Could we have managed it better, and if so how?

What attacking principles of play can I apply to support my team in playing through the thirds, with forward thinking play and intent.

Challenges:

Coaching Points:

Discuss with and question players on the techniacl mastery 1/3 of the pitch slide.

Deepest 1/3 - No risk zone. Middle third - Build and create. Attacking Third - freedom.

what does this mean to the players?

what does it look like in relation to tonights learning?

how wil this impact our decisions in this final phase of training?

External Factors:

Weather. Arrival numbers. Training numbers (compared to plan) Plan to manage these as necessary.

Interventions:

Whole group interventions utilising rest periods.

Ask the players what worked well within the block. What did they apply well?

How did they try to over come the problems within the game?

Use prepared questions and coaching points to build on the practical learning and see an improvement of Communication (perception at team level) Decision making, and executing of decisions.

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