Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Attacking in final third

Specific (15 mins)

Reds (Coached Team):

3-5-2 w/o LCB / RCB & GK

Blues (Opposition):

4-3-3 w/o Wingers (& 9 when out of possession)

Neutral player acts as Red CB and Blue ST, working in unopposed area behind the line. 

 

Organisation:

64x40 area size 

 

Work/Rest Times:

4x4 minute blocks

1 minute rest between blocks with multiple interventions to manage player load / use terminal interventions

 

Block 1:

Problem:

Opposition are compact and protecting the middle of the field

Solution:

Move the ball wide, creating 2v1 to attack red-zone / create crossing opportunities 

Block 2:

Problem:

Opposition are pressing high with high line and limiting space between lines

Solution: 

Look to get the ball into wide areas and hit crosses early to get ST's in behind the high defense / play over the top

Block 3:

Problem:

Opposition CM's help stop the ball going to wide areas

Solution:

Utilise the switch and exploit gaps created to get in behind the defence

 

Coaching Points (Coached Team):

• Final pass
• Finishing 
• Off ball movement 
• Take risks 
• Width, depth, overloads
• Disguised passes

DM's - Play balls into WB's back foot so they can progress quicker. Be in position to receive the ball from cutbacks if the cross isn't available

WB's - Stay wide. Be creative in their decision making, alternating between taking players on 1v1, crossing the ball early or cutting it back. Using the ST's to either overlap or underlap.

AM - Understand your ST's off ball movement and react to be in space to receive. If ST pulls defenders, recognise this and attack the gap that is created

ST's - Understand each-others movement and react. First time finish if possible. Look to drag opposition CB's to create space for teammates to run into. Alternating movement to work with WB's to create 2v1s for overlaps/underlaps

 

Opposition Management:

• Force the ball wide
• Aggressive pressure on bad passes/touches

Challenges:

Team:

• Variations of attacks to create chances (through, around, over)
• Can we make the defense face their goal 
• Get the ball into red zone / crossing situations

Individual:

WB's - Versatile in attack, taking players on when in 1v1. Variation of crosses used

ST's - Alternate movement in the box to find space. First time shots if possible. 

AM -  Alternate movement in the box to find space. First time shots if possible.

Conditions:

Ball restarts with neutral player, playing the ball to the reds

Blues cannot go past red line, leaving neutral unopposed

Blues have 6 seconds to score in the two small goals if possession is won (replicate their wide players in transition). 

Reflection

Coaching Practice Review and Reflection

What things stood out for you during the session that need to be reflected on?

Reds was quick when trying to get in behind, they used there 7 and 11 very well moving the ball quickly to them with there no 8 also playing on the edge for a cut back in a central area.,

What did you do well in the session? 

The reds had a lot of success scoring lots of goals. Reds created lots of 2vs1 scenarios and exploited space very well.

Why did these good things happen? 

This happened because reds moved the ball quickly and identified where the spaces were.

What impact did you have on the achievement of the objectives? 

I asked them to move the ball quick and create overloads in ares and they implemented it very well.