Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Finishing & Attacking Overloads.

Individual Development.

Organization:

Set up as shown.

Instructions:

Players are are equally placed on the yellow cones and they look to work simultaneously on their finishing from the following three scenarios.

- Scenario 1: Blue player (A) starting from the end line drives in to dribble past the mannequin using any move of his choice and quickly look to finish on goal before the edge of the box.

- Scenario 2: Once the shot has been taken by player (A), wide blue player (B) drives towards the bi-line to deliver a cross i.e. cut back cross, lofted, curl etc into player (A) that just finished on goal, the blue player (A) immediately re-adjust body position to finish off the cross.

- Scenario 2 - Blue player (C) plays a quick give-and-go with player (D) with the blue player (C) taking a good first touch out of feet to finish on goal.

- Rotation - A-B-C-D-A.

- On coach's call, the exercise is repeated on the opposite side to ensure that players finish from both sides.

Coaching Points:

- Drive in at speed to finish on goal during scenario 1.

- Quick execution of move to get past the mannequin.

- Weight, accuracy and variation of crosses.

- Accuracy over power.

- Re-adjust body position to attack the cross and finish on goal.

- Change of pace / direction.

Progression:

1. Players must finish on goal within 5 seconds.

Conditioned Game.

Organization:

Set up as shown.

Instructions:

- 2v2+1+GK in one half and 2v2+1+GK in opposite half.

- Both (white players) neutrals are restricted into their allocated halves.  

- When in possession inside the defensive half, the attacking team must look to break the halfway line either with a pass to connect the forwards and set off a 3v2 attacking overloads.

- Opposition team (reds) defending players in the blues defending half are not allowed to recover in order to create more finishing opportunities for the attacking team. The same condition applies to the red team when they are in possession.

- Both teams must be creative and look to use 3v2 attacking overload to finish quickly on goal.

Coaching Points/Questions:

1. Play quick to exploit the overload - Use the spare man for an overload and attack the space quickly to create finishing opportunities.

2. Create space to combine & attack - Attacking players should be looking how to loose their defender to create space to receive a pass. Players must look to combine effectively and get shots away at every opportunity.

3. Awareness of ball, space, team mates & defenders - Players should start to look around them and move into the space. Players are encouraged to dribble at defenders in 1v1 situations to create goal scoring opportunities.

Coaching Points when defending:

1. Defending Principles: Pressure, Cover, Balance, Delay and Compactness.

2. Speed and angle of approach.

3. Force play outside away from the goal.

4. Correct distances between defending players.

5. Defend i.e. blocks and tackles.

6. Transition quickly to attack / counter attack upon winning possession.

Progressions:

1. Once the ball arrives in the attacking half, the attacking team must look to finish within 8 seconds.

2. Free play with conditions being removed.