Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): UEFA B: Function - Playing through 3 Man Midfield (Start Time: 2014-11-25 14:30:00)

Screen 1 (10 mins)

Organisation

Create a pitch 60x40 yard, divided into three equal zones.

Divide players into teams of 8 players - blues and reds. Allocate 4 Defenders to play in each defence, 3 Midfielders in the midfield zone together with an attacker and goalkeeper for each team.

Play commences from either goalkeeper.

Condition

Players must remain within their zones

Ball has to be played through, not over, the Midfield zone.

Objective

To encourage defence to play ball through midfield;

Midfield players to create space through rotational play - deep lying midfielder to rotate with either of the other two midfielders.

Progressions

1. Defender can enter midfield zone upon completion of a successful pass to a midfielder, or by dribbling into the midfield zone, thus creating an overload in midfield.

2. Any player in the Midfield zone (to include a defender if applicable) may enter the attacking zone by completing a successful pass to the attacker, or by dribbling the ball into the attacking zone.

3. Allow two players to enter either midfield zone or attacking zone, once one player has completed a successful pass or dribbled into the next zone.

2. Once possession has been lost, all players must return to their original zones as quickly as possible.

Coaching Points

Defensive shape when attacking - expansive - left and right full backs go wide, into channels;

Defensive shape when defending - compact - no defenders within the channels; defenders to shuffle across when the ball is in a wide position; defenders try to remain compact i.e less than 10 yards apart from each other; First defender to press, second defender to tuck in, third and fourth to lie just in front of second defenders position EXCEPT when ball is played wide - First defender presses; second defender tucks in, third defender adopts a position alongside second defender, and fourth defender lies just above second and third defenders.

Once overload has been achieved in midfield area, can the ball be passed quickly to the attacker, to lay the ball off for midfielder entering the attacking zone.

Encourage players to retain possession by returning ball, for instance to a defender, if no other options are available, and playing ball to the other side of the pitch via goalkeeper.

Screen 3 (10 mins)

Progressions

1. Defender can enter midfield zone upon completion of a successful pass to a midfielder, or by dribbling into the midfield zone, thus creating an overload in midfield.

2. Any player in the Midfield zone (to include a defender if applicable) may enter the attacking zone by completing a successful pass to the attacker, or by dribbling the ball into the attacking zone.

3. Allow two players to enter either midfield zone or attacking zone, once one playe