Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Session Planning Guide

On the Ball, Next to the Ball, Away from the Ball.

• When Delivering a Whole Game Session (Or even phase of Play), ensure you (And your Players) know what is expected of them when they have the ball at the feet. Thinking of the roles of the three zones when planning a session can allow you as a coach to deeper think about each players autonym within the practice and how their movements and positions can create the pictures you want players to see. When stopping a session early on, walk these three zones through to allow your players to see the whole picture, as you coach you can then focus on each of zones in detail.

• Player on the Ball should understand how their decisions can affect the players both Next to and Away from them (Never be scared to ask these players "What the Can See" - this can challenge both your thinking as a coach but also see the game from a different angle you may not have thought of). Player on the ball is usually the most thought of when coaching as they are the epicentre of the game.

• Player on the Ball should understand how their decisions can affect the players both Next to and Away from them (Never be scared to ask these players "What the Can See" - this can challenge both your thinking as a coach but also see the game from a different angle you may not have thought of). Player on the ball is usually the most thought of when coaching as they are the epicentre of the game.

• Ensure that players that are Next to the player in possession also understand how what the player On the Ball does affects both their movements and roles - do they need to cover the player in possession to drive, do they need to cover the player to allow them more freedom etc.

• Then once coached the Player On the Ball and the Player's Next to the Ball, Move onto the Player's Away from the ball, these may be players that need to be ready to receive a longer pass or exploit space in beyond. These players will also need to understand how their positioning will change if the ball moves from On the Ball to the Player Next to the Ball.

Difference Between 1v1, 2v2, 3v3s

• 1v1s: 1v1s should encourage players to embrace the individual challenge. The progression of a 1v1 should challenge players in 1v1s whether that be; limiting touches (Although this can hinder creativity, Set areas the player must travel to, Restarting the game from specific areas on the pitch depending on the game or encourage constant transitions. 1v1 should not progress into more players as this will remove focus from the topic of the individual on the ball.

• 2v2s: Focus on players recognising the when and where on the pitch. Players should in their 2v2 scenarios when is the opportunity to recognise when 1v1 opportunities are there to use (you should be able to reference the 1v1 skills the players acquired in a variety of scenarios from the 1v1 topic) when  or when the potential 2v1 can be created. Should the Scenario offer 2v2s on the pitch players can start to recognise where the space is and attack the space, trying to receive on the move.

• 3v3: Players now should have the exposure from solely focusing on 1v1 and 2v2 in previous sessions to recognise the wide variety of opportunities to combine with each other, whether this be 1v1, 2v1, 2v2. This should now allow coaches to focus on the tactical aspect in depth, looking to relate the 3v3 to the real game, looking at the combinations of 3s over the pitch (whether be a Back 3, Midfield 3, Wide Triangle of Winger, Full-Back and Midfielder or a Front 3). When designing the 3v3 session, coaches should think about what outcomes they want from their players that relate to pitch to build the realistic picture for the players to develop their understanding further.