Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Period 1 Week 6 Session 2 - Counter attack from deep

Warm Up (25 mins)

Warm up with or without the ball.

Coach or player led.

Include at least 10 minutes SAQ-type practices.

(YDP) Counter-attacking from deep 1 (25 mins)

Organisation

Area 60x40yds, with pitch divided into halves, with goals, as illustrated.

16 players (incl. 2GK’s), 1 ball.

Practice starts with: GK rolls ball-out to Attacking team which has a 6v3 numerical advantage in it's own half.

In attacking half, there are 2A’s v 3D’s.

How to Play

A’s, in possession pass-out from back.

4A’s advance into opponents half to make 6v3 in attacking half.

Use flat discs as off-side line, with A’s only able to cross into attacking half once ball has been played into attackers.

Objective of game is to move advancing A’s rapidly into D’s half, bringing A’s into game & get early strikes on goal.

Play resumes in opposite direction from GK, using same playing numbers.

One team has a period of attacking (to & from both ends), before players re-organise to change roles (& understanding).

Detail

Challenge 1: Try to use one touch opportunities to change the tempo of attacks.

Challenge 2: Try to score using 6 passes or less.

Possible Coaching Points

Coach needs to connect questions to individual player’s needs, based on technical execution & decision-making demands.

Timing, distance & angles of support as play develops.

Noticing opportunity to feed runner into attacking half & supply with a variety of measured, accurate passes.

Ability of receiving player to control ball when moving at speed.

Early support for receiver to produce strike at goal.

Timing runs from MF areas.

Angle of runs & passes into opponents half, including when & where to release forward pass.

A’s timing their movement to link-in with advancing support players.

Changing tempo of attacks.

Progressions

Extra D recovers into defending half.

Allow/encourage realistic defending in challenge areas.

U12 – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes in 4v4 functional practices.

U13 – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes during under loaded functional practices

U14 – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes during under loaded functional practice and SSG

U15/16 – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes during under loaded functional practices and 11 v 11 games.

Cool Down & IDT (25 mins)

Minimum 15 minutes IDT to work on player targets.