Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Term 2 / Week 1 - 1v1

Pro-Club: FAW Coach Ed

Adam Davidson

Profile Summary

Name:	Adam Davidson
City:	Sydney
Country:	Australia
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Technical | 1v1

Tactical | Structured build up with a focus on playing out the back third.

Psychological | Respect [ know it & show it ]

Session Objective | I aim to improve our players' ability to create and attack space behind the opposition. Tactically, players will be challenged to solve problems using core 1v1 skills to play out the back third

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): skill introduction

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skill introduction (10 mins)

Frame

Core 1v1 skills in a tight space vs restricted opposition.

Explanation

Two 10x10 squared areas. 5 players in each square. All players dribble unopposed inside the area as the coach challenges them to complete various ball mastery skills when space is limited.

Progression

1. Awareness: when space between two players becomes available, challenge players to drive quickly through gaps, towards the area boundary, before executing a turn. Repeat. Set a challenge - players score points for each successful completion.

2. Escape pressure: one player in each square is given a bib to hold - this players dribbles and avoids the other 4 chasers inside the area. Chasers attempt to bump the dribbler's ball with their own. Dribbler tries to find pockets of space to exploit and keep their ball alive. Once their ball is bumped or they leave the area, pass the bib to a new player and go again. NB: no striking at the dribblers ball, must dribble to bump.

Coaching Points

1. plenty of soft touches, close control.

2. if we move the ball but stay in the same area, what might the defenders do? block you in and set a trap.

3. tight area, so if defenders are trying to set a trap - creativity and cleverness can set you free.

4. be unpredictable; change speed, direction & tempo.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): skill training A

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skill training A (10 mins)

Frame

Cues for action in 1v1 situations.

Explanation

20x20 area, three balls are placed on cones in each half (inside the yellow shooting zones). Players are divided into teams of equal numbers and take up a position at a designated cone on the sideline. 1v1 - DEF (blue) passes the ball to ATT (orange) and players cross-over / switch halves ; ATTs must beat DEFs to knock an opposition ball off a cone; knock-offs only count if the ATT player is in the opposition shooting zone. The first team to knock all opposition balls off the cones go one-nil up.

Progression

1. Players call out a number (1,2 or 3) as they pass the ball to begin the game; 1 = 1v1; 2 = 2v2; 3 = 3v3. All players must cross-over into their own half before they are active.

Coaching Points

Do you have space ahead to exploit? If Yes:

1. positive attitude to attack space ahead quickly.

2. first touch out of feet and into space - commit the defender to create opportunity.

3. cues / triggers to exploit space e.g. is the defender positioned poorly - leaning too much, only blocking the right side.

4. be unpredictable - change speed, direction and tempo.

Do you have space ahead of you to exploit? If No:

1. dribble to switch play or switch play to allow others to dribble - if one player can't dribble because more than one opponent is in front of them, encourage them to switch play to a team-mate who has space ahead of them.

2. protect the ball - use body & forearm to get a sense of how much they're committing.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): skill training B

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skill training B (10 mins)

Explanation

2 DEFS vs 2 ATT (4 mini-goals)

DEF passes to ATT, players cross-over.

ATT passes the ball to team-mate, and DEF team-mate enters grid from opposite side - creating a 2v2.

When DEF team wins the ball, they attack opposite mini-goals.

Coaches: be sure to switch ATT & DEF's; player's must learn that they have two roles and responsibilities.

Regression

1. 1 DEF vs 1 ATT (4 mini-goals): 2 1v1 games take place on the same pitch [P.D.E].

Coaching Points

1. The player with the ball depends on the player without the ball; experiment with off the ball runs to see if you can get success with something a little different.

2. You have two real options - (i) combining with a team-mate or (ii) going it alone; discover where and when each option is more useful.

3. When playing and combining with a team-mate; it's useful to communicate.

4. Speed option is our first option; if we see space, drive into it. If you're blocked, use 1v1 i.e. COD, fakes, feints etc.

5. If you go right, finish with your right; if you go left, finish with your left.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): tactical component

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tactical component (15 mins)

Frame

Structured build up with a focus on playing out the back (3v2) and encouraging core 1v1 skills.

Explanation

Two thirds of a 5-aside pitch with three goals; two bazooka goals at one end for the ATK team to score into / one large goal and GK (coach) at the opposite end for the DEF team to counter-attack and score. 3v2: ATK team set-up as GK-2-1. GK plays a ball to an ATK player to initiate an attack. When ball is dead, two new ATK & two new DEF's jump on.

Progression

4v3: ATK team set-up as GK-1-2-1. GK plays a ball to an ATK player to initiate an attack.

NB: if competent, extend the defensive zone to the full two-thirds to challenge players to play out from the back with game realistic pressure.

Coaching Points

1. Cue/trigger: as soon as the GK has possession of the ball, this is a signal for two ATKs to go wide, face inwards on the half turn and show for the ball. The 3rd ATK now has a choice to drop into the space in the middle to receive OR to stretch the field by pinning one defender as far back as possible, allowing team mates to play 2v1 out from the back.

2. Patience in possession - shift the ball to create space & opportunities to play / drive forward.

2. Give players freedom to solve problems on their own or as a team; guide exploratory learning with subtle points from previous exercises.