Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): When/ where to support a team mate (Start Time: 2014-11-25 17:30:00)

Ball Manipulation (20 mins)

Free Play Ball Manipulation Skills

Set up:

* 30 x 30 yard area

* Each player with a ball

Instructions:

* Players perform a ball manipulation skill

* Either players perform a skill and break into a new space then continue and repeat

or players perform skill and upon coaches call 'break!' players accelrate into a new space and continue skill.

* To vary intensity, players may be challenged to try new ways of getting and keeping the ball off the floor, demonstarted by the coach or players.

* A triggerman is designated by the coach secretly from players to perform a skill, players must then copy who is doing something different to the others.

Rotational Rhondo (20 mins)

Rondo 6v2

Set up: 12x12 / 15x15 Square.

1 Ball

8 Players (2 Defenders in the middle and 1 CM)

2 Players divided on one side of the square (a cone represents the divison)

Players on the line, assigned a number or role represntative of position (i.e. No. 5 / CB)

Player Objectives:

* CB's look to close space between them to stop pass going through and also to stop combinations involving the CM

* Pressure and cover

* Marking

* Intercepting

* Tackling

* Denying space

Player Challenges:

* Can the defenders come up with a tactic to reduce the success of the attackers?

* Can the defenders try to read body shape to where the pass may go, to intercept then keep the ball 2v1 in the centre?

* Can players interchange positions?

* Can players show when to make runs off their lines into the middle to create space?

Scoring:

* Defenders score by blocking/ intercepting attempts to play between them or including combinations with the CM.

* Attackers score by passing the ball between the defenders to another player. They also score after a succesful combination with the CM.

Support Play (30 mins)

Support Play

Practice organisation

• Area 30x20yds, divided into 2 equal halves, with

goals in each corner, as illustrated.

• 8 players arranged 3 Reds v 2 Blues in one half & 1v1 in other.

• An additional Blue starts on the side line of the 1v1 half.

• Practice starts with: Reds in possession of ball.

• Reds score by achieving a pre-determined number of consecutive

passes (e.g. 3) before looking to transfer ball into other end.

• 2 Reds follow pass/run with ball & one Blue moves into other half to

recreate a 3v2 situation.

• Practice continues as previously described (leaving 1v1 behind).

• If Blues win ball: counter-attack as quickly as possible, adding the

extra player from side to enhance numbers.

• Practice restarts when play breaks down & ball goes dead.

Detail

• Size of area can be adjusted according to age & ability of players.

• Overloads & conditions can be adapted also, to suit players.

• A’s looking for opportunities, preparing & planning

for the movement or pass forward into other half.

• D’s need to prepare for & plan for counter-attack, looking for the

quick pass forward or the drive to advance play quickly.

• Simple progressions for this practice are:

- Define time limit to counter-attacks (e.g. 5 secs).

- Reds achieve 2 sets of consecutive passes (i.e. 6), then attack

opposite half.

- Remove player from side line & play 3v2 in one half & 1v2 in other.

- Include all players to make a 4v4 game.

Key coaching points

• Control, passing & support play skills needed to

keep possession.

• Using space to exploit advantage of overload.

• Timing of forward runs & passes.

• D’s looking to spoil & intercept.

• D’s being mindful of counter attacking with security.