Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Playing out from the back (Start Time: 2019-10-05 10:50:00)

Screen 1 (55 mins)

Regent's Session Plan -

Start - 0-10' - Habits and rotational warm up - Allows players to get feel for the session and hit 1000 touches. This is chance for players to try their own skills and put into unopposed then opposed practice. Relate back to lockdown, and also use fitness challenges to improve physicality of players.

Rondos - 10 - 20' -  With the first week back, it's really important to get the players used to the ball again to start with lots of rondos to get their eye in. Slowly increase difficulty by changing area size & number of defenders whilst promoting one touch. Switch the drill to become directional by adding goals/targets. EX: Once 10 passes made, ball can be transferred to a striker who is 1 v 1 with keeper. 

Regents Fundamental Warm up/Movement - 20 - 35' - Transfer the rondo skills into a larger area focusing on two directional movement and pattern play. To start, have the practice unopposed with lots of balls and passing opportunities. Slowly increase  difficulty with varying 'objectives' but focus on 3 key points: Width, Connectivity and Creativity. 

Session topic - Playing out from the back:

When playing out from the back, players should aim at penetrating defensive lines and progressing up the pitch. Although patience is needed, every player should check whether a pass into depth without losing the ball is possible; especially if the opposition is pressing high, there will appear space between the lines which needs to be exploited. If there is no space, this means that the opponent has heavily shifted towards the ball, opening up space on the ball far side.

Drill - Keeper starts each time, looks to play it to 5/6, who must work the ball into each player before getting ball into mini goals.

3 attackers try to press, but always overloaded so if played right can progress up the pitch.

Key Coaching points:

- First options are 5/6

- As players 5/6 have ball, the rest of the field players check in and adjust as picture above.

- Create Dimond shape around ball , 5, 4, 6 and GK

-Triangle Shape 5/6 - 4 - 8 - Number 8 needs to ensure he is creating angles with player on the ball, and be vocal point of triangle.

- Blues read situation, press half the pitch, dependent on keepers first pass. Start deeper to promote keeper to play to 5 or 6 first.

- When receiving ball, use farthest foot to receive + first touch forward so they can face in the direction we want to go

Focus word/phrase 

Patience before penetration - This is extremely important when playing out from the back and is the one key aspect I want my players to learn from this session. If being pressed, don't force the pass to split lines, work it out well before stepping into the mid third.

3 thirds game/Match to end

Ensure this is played next to build players confidence and link to what players should do after ball is played into 8/10. One rule for this session is that if the ball goes off, it must start with the GK of that team. This then reinforces the session topic and creates a match like feel.