Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Effective Possession - Line breaking passing

Technique Practice (15 mins)

Technical Practice 

Equipment:

- 6 pancake markers

- 4 poles 

- 12 balls 

Dimensions: 20m long x 15m wide (each station)

Players split into groups of 4 with each team having a ball with two active players on the inside (one in each half) and two on the outside. Each group starts with the inside player receiving the ball from a player on the outside and break the line of mannequins with a diagonal pass t their team mate in the opposite half who then plays to the outside player on their side of the pitch. To start, players to only break the line through the designated channel with outside players changing after a set time. 

Progression: 

- Bounce pass for outside player to play line breaking pass

- Inside and outside players can receive in any channel

- Inside players swap with outside player when they pass to them

- Competition - How many times can you complete the sequence within a set time?

- First touch is under control and moving in the direction you want to go

- Practice receiving and taking your first touch with different parts of the foot

- Pass with good ball speed  

- Scan before receiving the ball

- Pass to the correct foot

Intervention - Limit Scoring Opportunities (20 mins)

5v5+2 Positioning Game

Equipment:

- 8 markers 

- 6 pancake markers

- 12 bibs (2 colours)

- 12 balls 

- 2 full size goals 

Dimensions: 50m long x 35m wide with channel 5m long by 35m wide

The pitch is divided in half with a channel in the middle. The objective of the blue team is to link up with the players in the attacking half and score a goal. The red team must complete 3 passes before playing into the attacking zone. Once the ball is played into the attacking zone one player from the blue team can join the attacking zone to create a 3v2. The red team attempt to win the ball as early as possible either through a tackle in their attacking or defensive half or through an interception in the middle channel. Players in the channel are restricted to that area. If red win the ball they have one attempt to score with the channel players + 1 entering the attacking half to create a 5v4. If red do not score from their play restarts with the BP team. 

Team task: Play a line breaking pass to a player receiving in between the lines to progress the play up field.

Progressions: 

1. BPO team must send one of the channel players into the attacking half to create a 3v4 with one player in the channel screening 

2. BPO team can decide whether to send in an extra defender from the middle channel to win the ball high or attempt to pick off the intercept. 

3. BPO players in central channel can recover to prevent overload one their line in broken with a pass  Any number of defenders can recover into the shooting zone to prevent the opposition scoring 

4. Continuous game (when ball won from countering team, they must transition into 2/2/2 in each zone)

Player Tasks:

- Can you make a well timed run to receive between the lines

- Can you execute a forward pass when the opportunity arises that takes at least one opposition player out of the play

- Can you circulate the ball quickly to create a passing lane for a line breaking pass

- Can you lure the opposition out of their defensive shape to create a passing lane for a line breaking pass 

- Can you support the player receiving the ball between the lines

Player Cues:

- When the ball carrier looks up, make your run to receive between the lines in a passing lane or already be in a passing lane

- When opposition defenders are spaced too far apart, play the line breaking pass with pace 

- If there is not a channel to play a line breaking pass forward, pass the ball laterally quickly change the direction often to split defenders

- When the opposition are not applying pressure but staying compact, look to maintain possession in the same area of the pitch for a few passes to encourage an opposition player to break their defensive line and leave a passing lane

- When you are behind the player receiving between the lines, make a forward run beyond the player to either receive the ball or create space for a team mate.