Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): Possession Under Pressure - Finding the best way to penetrate

Technical - Up Back Through (15 mins)

Set Up:

• This technical passing practice is delivered within a small diamond-shaped area. Players are spaced approximately 6 yards apart and set up as shown in the diagram.
• It involves a minimum of eight players. One player is positioned on each flat marker/cone, with remaining players lined up at either end of the diamond.
• The players perform an up-back-and-through passing pattern, involving one-touch sets and one-touch passes, plus scanning and short, sharp movements.
• The pattern – an example of which is shown in the diagram – begins with the players at the front of the queues at either end playing a pass to their right (#1), missing out the player directly next to them.
• The receiving player should set a pass (#2) to the player missed out by the first pass, who then plays a pass to the next player along that side of the diamond (#3).
• The player who received the first pass should then receive the next set (#4), before playing a pass to the other end of the diamond (#5).
• After each passing action in the pattern, players must move on to the next marker/cone, in the direction of play.
• The two balls will start at the same time and finish at the opposite end cone. Once these players have received the ball, they will repeat the pattern.
• The coach can blow their whistle at any point during the practice and request that the passing pattern continues in the opposite direction.

Coaching Points:

• Detail of the pass - All passes should be played with the appropriate weight and accuracy, in order for the players to combine quickly using one or two touches.
• Smooth passes -The coach should challenge the players to play every pass smoothly. This is to ensure there are no bobbles in their passes, so that patterns are played at a match tempo.
• Scanning - Players must constantly scan, in order to be ready for their next action. This is even more important when a third ball is introduced, because the players will be completing each action quicker.
• Movement to create space - Players must recognize when to move out of the passing line in order to create a new line to the next player.
• Quality of the sets - The sets should be regarded as passes. When setting the ball with one touch, the coach should instruct the players to use soft sets, to ensure that the player receiving the set can play their next pass with one touch.

7v7 Conditioned Game (20 mins)

• This possession-based game is set up using two teams of six and two goalkeepers.
• The pitch measures 36 yards by 30 yards and is split into two halves. Four mini-goals are placed along the middle – two facing either way – with two full-sized goals at either end, as shown in the diagram
• The game begins with teams in their own halves, and the coach (C) passing into a designated in-possession team – Red in the diagram.
• This will trigger four pressing players from the Blue team to sprint into the possession team’s half.
• The in-possession team has two different ways to score a point: make five consecutive passes in order to open up their two mini-goals to pass into, or make 10 consecutive passes.
• If the pressing team steals the ball, they can score in the big goal, or play back into their half – where their two spare players are – to maintain possession.
• If they play backwards, the practice will continue in the opposite half; four players from the now out-of-possession team will advance into that half to press.
• Play for four blocks of three minutes.
• Teams should swap halves after two blocks.

• Breaking lines - The coach should stress the importance of recognizing chances to play piercing passes, to break lines when under high pressure. These passes should be played into space, to help relieve pressure.
• Switching play - If the pressing four players have halved the pitch, making it difficult to play short passes, the player in possession should look to switch play to break the press.
• Penetrating through central areas - The coach should encourage the players to use penetrative passes through central areas, which can help them to gain more points. Here, they can use a switch of play to draw the defending team out wide, before using quick combinations to play centrally.

• Locking it in - Restricting space and locking play into small areas will enhance the chances of winning possession. This can be done by forcing the ball into wide areas and ensuring players are around the ball to steal possession.
• Pressing together - The four pressing players – who with the opposition goalkeeper are underloaded 7v4 – must ensure they are pressing together. This will help when trying to restrict space, but will also make it more difficult for the in-possession team to play through them.