Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Breaking Lines (Attacking Transitions)

4v4 +3 Breaking Lines (15 mins)

Transition from one to End  to the other. Players must secure an end before attemping to play through and hit the target on opposite side. Players are locked in their zones but can use the yellow neutral to create 3v2 or 4v2  to transfer into other zone. players move the ball quickly to create passing lanes to play forward, when they break the line the two receiving players become the attackers the team that made the pass rotate out to become the end players and the defenders. Focus is this part of the session is for players to react and make positive runs forward with and without the ball to try and take advantage when the defensive team is out of position.

Coaching points.

- Forward runs (Ask Players what could we do.)

- Can the player who receives the ball attack the space available and play to the other end before defenders react?

- Defending team concentrate on how quickly we can get back together and defend as the ball transitions from end to end.

Attacking Principles

Movement between the lines and create numerical advantages ( players must see when we don't have good number in the middle space

Playing forward to break the lines (if possible)

3 zone Game

Counter Attacking

Practice Organisation

-Area 40x30yds, using penalty area divided into 2 zones (30x30 & 10x30yds), appropriate size goals at each end, as illustrated.

-16 players (incl 1GK), arranged 8 Attackers v 7 Defenders Plus GK to Make 8, as shown in the diagram.

-Off-side lines may be drawn, or practice can operate with (or without) normal off-side rules applying.

-D’s leave 2 striker in advance zone who can try to win the ball early.

-Remaining D’s drop into deep zone and can only win ball back there.

-If D’s win ball: they counter-attack, playing initially through 2 striker.s

-If A’s regain possession whilst defending the counter-attack; D’s retreat back to deep zone to defend & practice continues with A’s in possession.

-When ball goes dead; -practice recommences with initial set-up arrangements.

Detail:

-Size of area can be adjusted according to age and ability of players.

-This practice can be developed for counter-attacking or for play against a compact defensive block.

-Simple progressions for this practice are:

-- Reduce numerical advantage of D’s in deep zone.

-- Reverse overload, so that A’s have numerical advantage

Key coaching points.

-A’s looking for quality of passing, movement and support play to break down the defensive block

-D;s need to be patient, slide, cover and communicate

-D’s looking for interceptions and being aware of possibility to act fact and counter-attack, should the opportunity arise

-D’s require defensive security to safeguard against the possible threat of a counter of the counter-attacking from A’s

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U11’s – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes under passive pressure.

U12’s – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes at pace, under passive pressure.

U12+’s – The players should be able to complete the Learning outcomes with increased pace, under pressure.