Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): When to run with the ball
Description
The team will be working on running with the ball. The key players will be the centre backs, the coach wants the centre backs to run up with the ball to beat the first press. The club wants to produce ball playing centre backs.
The coach will be working with the reds.
Principles of Attacking
- Disperse
- Movement
- Penetrate
- Support
- Creative
• Recognise the opportunity to run with the ball
• Quality of the first touch when moving onto or with the ball.
• Quality of the touches when running with the ball.
• Observation of play ahead when running with the ball.
• Decision-making and quality of action on releasing or striking the ball at goal.
STEP principle
Space:60x40 yards
Time: 20 minutes
Equipment: 14 bibs (two different colours), 2 goals, cones, Balls
Players: 14 players

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Learning Objectives
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Technical Pass the ball in front of the player. Use the laces to push ball into space. Each touch on the ball should be 3 steps, anymore will mean loss of control of the ball. |
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Tactical If the run isn't on pass the ball around dish. |
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Physical Accelerate and decelerate at the right time. |
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Psychological To know if the pass is on. |
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Social Communication from teammates about space and time on the ball. |
This picture is performed to give one of the defenders chance to run with the football. As the defenders will have space.
If the defender doesn't have space to drive into, they will work in the dish to play out the other side to run in to. As shown with the blue line.
Key points
- Drive into space when it's clear
- Stop when space is covered
- The keeper needs to play the ball into space, so it's easier to drive into space.
- If the ball is on the right side the defender has to come round and cover. Same on the other side.
- Open the body out (Hips and shoulders out).
- Heels off the floor so you can spring.
- Back knee facing the ball, front knee facing the space the player is going to driving into.
- Head is scanning to see the space and opponents.

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Learning Objectives
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Technical Receive on the back foot to go forward. Drill pass in. |
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Tactical As soon as the pass has been played run into space and be ready for the pass. |
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Physical Accelerate quickly to get into space. |
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Psychological Hold the run if the pass or touch isn't good. |
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Social Communicate with the player and call for the ball. Eye contact with teammate so they know what you want to do. |
Picture shows the player getting closed down by the opposition. This will allow the midfielder to drop in for a 1-2 to let the defender run on to the ball.
Key points
- The keeper should pass the in front of the player to allow the run.
- The player on the ball needs to recognise the opposition player closing them down.
- Midfielder needs to drop into space on the half turn to play through the gap.
- Defender needs to run on to the ball and run with it again.
- Open the body out (Hips and shoulders out).
- Heels off the floor so you can spring.
- Back knee facing the ball, front knee facing the space the player is going to driving into.
- Head is scanning to see the space and opponents.

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
20 mins
This picture will show the player when to stop running with the ball.
Key points
- Run with the ball until you're about 2/3 steps in front of someone. Could be depending on the players deceleration. Main thing is to understand your distance for slowing down to dribble
- If it's 1vs1 take them on. 2vs1 pass it on.

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Learning Objectives
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Technical Feel opponent to see where they are. Receive one way and roll the other way. Look at extra detail. |
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Tactical Come deep to leave space in behind for you or teammates. |
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Physical Strength and balance to hold off and pin player back. |
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Psychological Know where the defender is and go the other way. Know if it is the right thing to do. |
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Social Communicate to know where to play. Either get a pass off or dribble. |
This picture shows the ball going into the striker and the striker pinning the oppositions defender and turning to run with the ball.
Key points
- The striker will drop deep to allow space in behind.
- The striker will pin the defender and roll them. With examples demonstrated by the coach.
- Turn into space and run into the space.
- Slow down when get close to the keeper. 4-7 steps.
- Heels slightly off the ground. To spring and roll player.
- Front foot away from opponent to receive. Back foot planted in-between opponent for balance and to keep them away from the ball.
- Knees slightly bent for balance. Front knee face their goal. Back sideways to hold off defender.
- Hips and shoulders facing the same way for balance.
- Arms bent to pin defender. Can also hook your arm with the opponents arm to pin them. So easy to roll.
- Head should be scanning all the time to see where the space is.
Play animation
Play step-by-step
Repeat (toggle)
Full Screen
Pause
Stop
20 mins
Formation= Red team-1-3-2-1
Blue team- 1-2-2-2