Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Attacking From A Restart In Zone 1: Coach Stephen Hughes Age Group: U18 Girls Club: NMSC

Screen 1 (15 mins)

Set up:

• 6 players each line
• Cone at starting point
• 1st hurdle 10 yards from starting cone
• Hurdles 1 yard apart

Description:

• Light jog at 50% to end of hurdles and back 3 times
• Light Jog to hurdles, bounce over hurdles; hold and pause for a count of 3 seconds and then proceed to the next hurdle repeat with the same foot then jog out
• Repeat previous action with other foot
• Repeat 2x each leg
• Dynamic lunges from cone to end hurdle and jog back 2x
• Front toe touch same side from starting point to last hurdle 2x
• Quick shuttle runs at 75% to each hurdle and back to starting cone
• Grass cutters 2x each leg
• Hamstring scoops 2x
• Lunge opening up groin to side 2x
• Side to side movement in a zigzag pattern through hurdles 2x
• Lunge movement twisting to opposite side of knee up 2x
• Explosive runs 3x at 75%
• Explosive runs 3x at 90%

Screen 3 (20 mins)

SET UP:

10 V 9 (Second CB and goalkeeper are not part of the defending team's line up) 

group of 10 players playing to target #9 in the box

Coach positions either at the back of the box or on sideline 

Balls starting at the goal with the keeper starting play

PROCESS:

Ball from the GK on a restart played to the right side to the #4 (Pass A1)

The #4 plays to either the #2 on the wing (A2) or the #6 on the ball side of the middle of the park (A2A) while the #6 is still breaking a line confrontation

The #6 then finds an open player, (options the #8, #10, #5 and if it is the #5 (A4) then without immediate pressure possibly the #3 on the opposite side {A3})

Ball can then be played to the #8 from the #3 (A6) and then into the #10 (A7)

From here we can find the #7 or #11 to continue the attack up the field still looking to play into the #9 for a more centralized attack

Ball distribution is all based on three keys:

1) What does the player see based on:

• their body positioning
• the positioning of the defenders
• The pressure from the defenders (angle of approach, speed of the angle of approach)
• the speed of the shift of defenders in reaction to the movement of the ball individually and collectively
• the approach of the defenders with low and high pressure
• Reaction to the pressure is based on the response of urgency by the defending team

2) Players relation to the ball with angles to be able to receive a pass, make a run into space based on the player with the ball's position being played into space and the receiving player getting into that space before the defender and make a secondary pass to teammate(s) (Example B1 to B2 from previous page)

3) What gaps in the defense can be readily exploited when exposed and when this takes place, can we play into that gap to exploit the space moving the ball up the field

COACHING POINTS:

Receiving ball

Body positioning

Scanning the area

Reviewing options

Recognizing the cues and body positioning of the defenders

Playing into the Future (What is the player going to do with the ball before it gets to them)

Quality of pass

Accuracy of pass

Weight of pass

How are you receiving the ball with your body position in relation to the closing defender, (ie. away from the pressure)

Recognizing space based on the pressure

Recognizing the spacing of the teammate with the ball and what is the potential receiving player's spacing relative to the player with the ball, the defender(s), and the next pass to advance the ball