Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Penetration: Breaking Lines & Creativity In The Final Third

SSG (20 mins)

Area Size

Each area 15x25m

Equipment 

Goals, Bibs, Cones

Session Explanation 

Teams rotate on and off as the game is very high intensity. 2 games run next to each other dependent on numbers. Teams play 3v3 if numbers allow, attempting to score against one another. If a team scores they stay on and will defend the next team of three that enter the game, the team that conceded will switch out quickly to avoid interacting with the game currently on. 

Session Objectives

• All: Players can understand and recognise the importance of creativity and how it creates space and opportunities.
• Majority: Feel comfortable dribbling with the ball in tight areas.
• Some: Players can disorganise opponents through ball manipulation and skill, creating opportunities for themselves and teammates.

Coaching Detail

• How can we create space? Look to disguise our intentions, use faints, drop short before running in-behind or the opposite of the latter.
• If the above points present an opportunity to play forwards, don't hesitate, encourage players to play quickly, first time if possible.
• Encourage skills and turns to beat or fool tight marking or smarter defenders creating space and passing possibilities.

Guided Questions

• How can we create space in SSG situations WITHOUT the ball?
• How can we create space in SSG situations WITH the ball?
• Think game situation, why is it important to play forward quickly into a possible 1v1? What might that 1v1 soon become?

Penetrating Whilst Overloaded 4v5 (25 mins)

Area Size 

Half pitch 60mx45m

Equipment

Goals, Balls, Bibs, Cones

Session Explanation 

Att v Def game. Teams will get four opportunities to score as many goals as possible before switching out. Offsides are in play as are throw ins, but not corners. 

Play starts from any of the players stationed outside the playing area, once live players must try to score whilst being outnumbered, this is in the hopes that players recognise they must try different things and be creative to open space and develop scoring opportunities. If necessary play can be played back to a red on the outside to relieve pressure and re-start the attack, however the outside player is limited to two touches max.

Conditions can be added from the previous game to maximise the chances of achieving our session outcomes. If the defenders force a turnover they will score a point for passing out to one of the red players but will score two points if they can dribble it out over the line.  

Session Outcomes

• All: Players can understand and recognise the importance of creativity within the final third and how it creates space and opportunities.
• Majority: Feel comfortable dribbling with the ball in tight areas.
• Some: Players can disorganise opponents through ball manipulation and skill, creating opportunities for themselves and teammates.

• Frequent scanning to allow for quick decision making.
• Look to disrupt the opponents structure using techniques from previous practices.
• Make the pitch as big as possible, allow us to exploit possible 1v1s in dangerous areas. 
• Attack the space in-behind. 

Guided Questions 

• How can we create and be effective despite being outnumbered?
• How can we create 1v1s despite being overloaded?