Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Playing Through Midfield Areas

Profile Summary

Name:	Paul Musacchio
City:	Manchester
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

A session looking at player rotation, recognition of exploiting space in central areas and angled passing between the thirds to advance the ball forwards.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Zig-zag passing to a finish

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Learning Objectives

	Technical Passing execution, high ball speed, tight ball control, open body shape to receive, accurate ball striking
	Tactical n/a
	Physical Speed with and without the ball, balance when receiving
	Psychological Focus and concentration of passing
	Social Verbal communication between players

Zig-zag passing to a finish (20 mins)

Overview
Players perform passing sequence as per the plan and move to the next position. Players are challenged to play each pass in 2 touches. The end players finish with a shot at goal versus the GK. After this, they retrieve a ball and dribble down the middle back to the start.

Coaching Points

Passing

High ball speed passing is crucial in this practice to challenge the receiving players technically. Passing to the next player's back foot allows them to transfer the ball quickly and efficiently. Player should execute accurate passes every time focusing on clean ball contacts

Body shape

Hips and shoulders should be open which allows the receiver to take the ball around the back of the mannequin. Players need to pivot through the hips upon their receiving touch to try and direct ball and to see the next pass.

Receiving skills
Players should take their first touch out of their feet and around the mannequin. The ball needs to be directed into the path of the next mannequin

Pre movement

Movement should be realistic prior to receiving the ball to create space upon their touch. Double movements away from the mannequin and then back towards the ball are realistic game type movements which when pressure is added, will look to deceive an opponent.

Progressions

Coach to create different passing combinations to challenge players (e.g 1-2s)

Have the players perform the sequence through each other to add contextual interference

Regression

Players have as many touches as they need to advance ball forwards

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Pass in, Pass out

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Learning Objectives

	Technical Accurate passing with high ball speed, receiving to pass out with open effective body shape
	Tactical Create space to receive, passing angles to receive on outside, quick rotation of players during combination, counter press attitude
	Physical Agility to counter press with speed, balance when receiving in tight areas
	Psychological Non verbal cues to pass ball efficiently
	Social Competition between teams, encouragement of each other

Pass in, Pass out (20 mins)

Overview

Players are in groups of 3. They have to pass their ball in the middle shaded zone and then out to their team-mate. The blues are the defenders who aim to intercept passes into and out of the middle zone. If they do, they attempt to dribble the ball out of the main area to score a point. They can be tackled by a member of the passing team. Play for periods of 4 mins and then swap over.

Coaching points

Communication

Verbal communication is vital here to tell team-mates when to pass ball in and out.

Non verbal communication is also relevant for players to try and their read team-mate's body language which dictates the type of pass required.

Decision making

Players need to identify how and when to pass infield and may need to share the ball with their other outside player whilst looking to penetrate with pass inside.

Transition

If the pass inside or outside is intercepted, the nearest player must counter press quickly to regain the ball back for his team.

Defending actions

The defenders need to scan and try to intercept passes. Their body shape needs to be open so that they are aware of the balls being passed from different areas and they must try to screen and block both passes into the middle and to the outside of the area.

Progressions

If the defending team manage to dribble out, they become a passing team and the team they won possession from become defenders.

The players must rotate when completing the passing combination (e.g Pass in go in, pass out go out).

Regression

Bigger middle zone to make it easier to pass inside and receive in order to transfer ball out

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Through the middle

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Learning Objectives

	Technical Execution of all in possession football actions - passing, dribbling, finishing
	Tactical Rotations to create space, use of width to create space centrally
	Physical Speed of runs, strength when competing for the ball, agility to lose markers
	Psychological Concentration in all phases of the game, confidence to make runs and receive in tight areas (eg middle zone)
	Social Competition between teams, verbal encouragement when team-mates make mistakes

Through the middle (20 mins)

Overview

7v7 game

Middle zone (5x5 yard area or as required)

Normal game but if a team can play out from the back and through the middle zone and score, the goal is worth 2

Passing
High ball speed passing to exploit gaps in opposition will be seen here. Players need to identify whether passes into feet or space are preferable and this will be dependent on other player’s movement. Angled passes forwards will allow players to turn the game forwards and advance towards goal.

Positioning

Width, depth and height in possession will be required to stretch the opposition, with the aim to create space centrally. Players should look to interchange positions (e.g in and out of the middle zone) and rotate to create space for themselves or a team-mate

Timing of runs

Players should aim to make late runs into the middle zone to make themselves difficult to be tracked and marked.

Movement when marked

If marked tightly, players should look to exit the middle zone and be replaced by a secondary player who needs to time their run accordingly. This creating and exploiting of space principle is key in this practice.

Progressions

1st time passes into the middle zone only (or if they do this and then score, goal is worth 3).

1st time passes out of middle zone only (as above)

Decrease size of middle zone

Regressions

Increase size of middle zone

If player receives in middle zone, he can do so unopposed, but his pass out can be intercepted (he can dribble out as well)

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