Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Creating and Developing Shooting Oppourtunities

Function (20 mins)

Organisation

- Half 11-a-side pitch +10m beyond halfway line

- 2 Mini goals on the +10m line.

- 15 Players

- Attacking Team (blue) setup in a 3-3-2

- Defending Team (red) setup in a 1-3-2-1

- Ball starts with Blue server who plays into any blue defender

- Blues try to work way through midfield and attacking third and then score.

- If defending team win ball back, they have 15 seconds to score into mini goals

- When play/ball dead, restart with server

Coaching Points

- Front players and midfield

movement to create space

– diagonal runs (forward players

interchange positions)

- overlaps with wide players

- positivity

- incisive and decisive

- ruthless in the decision making and execution

- effective and informative communication

• or if we can’t go wide, can one attacker drop deep to receive the

ball?

• Quality of passing into front players from midfield- observe and

recognise the moment to pass.

• Positive attitude- take early opportunities to shoot on half turn?

• Variety of shot (round, through and over)

• Technique- head over the ball, aim for accuracy before power. Hit the

target.

• Also quality of finishing from crosses.

• Support from midfield players and rebounds.

• Encourage clever play- tricks, feints and dummies in final third to

create an opening.

• Don’t force play- encourage Attackers to keep ball until a

shooting opportunity arises

- Maintain structure and space to split opposition to then exploit those gaps created

Progression(s)

- Introduce offside line to create further realism (either flag/cone line or set by defending team)

- Defenders have longer time period to score (20-30s)

- Attackers can play out to any player from server

Regression(s)

- Passive pressure until midfield or attacking third

- Reduced time limit for defenders to score (10s), or even a touch limit (5-10 touches to score).