Create your own Session Planns with stunning 3D in minutes Hundreds of soccer sessions in a searchable database Compile ready-made drills into your own session in seconds Adapt ready-made drills to make a customised session in moments Post on your website, e-mail to friends, link to non-Members, view on your phone Sport Session Planner: for a low yearly subscription, click here to join!

Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): 9v9 - Utilizing space in wide areas

Club Logo

The Football Academy NJ

Ian Wilson

Profile Summary

Ian Wilson
Name: Ian Wilson
City: Hackettstown, NJ
Country: United States of America
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
Build 3D sessions in seconds
Access to 1000’s of sessions
Professionalise and modernise your coaching
Used by the world’s best coaches
US$
75
per year
Join today

Description



Goal/Objective: The objective of this session is to improve the success we're able to get in the attacking half with balls in wide areas. Specifically balls into the #7 or #11 when space is outside, once in this possible can we make good decisions to pass or dribble based on what the defenders are doing in front. 



Attacking Team Tactical Principles: Utilize space in wide areas to create goal scoring opportunities, Create 2v1's to help penetration. 



Defending Team Tactical Principles: Compactness, Organization (sliding across to prevent penetration) 



PLAYER ACTION: When the #7 or #11 are receiving in wide areas can we penetrate and create a goal scoring opportunity if the full backs get across now can we look to create a 2v1 with the #9. 



Who: #7, #11, #8, #10 & #9 



What: Looking for players to utilize space in wide areas and penetrate the back line to get into goal scoring opportunities



Where: In the attacking half of the field in wide areas 



When: When the opponents are compact centrally



Why: So we're able to get into goal scoring opportunities


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Stage 1

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Stage 1
Save Image: Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Stage 1 Create Video:

Stage 1 (15 mins)

In this activity have the players in 3v3's towards goal however the ball starts with the CM passing out wide into the #7 or #11. Once the ball is played wide the game is live and we're looking to create a goal scoring opportunity, in the diagram on the right side you can see the opponents (GK, LB and CB) the attacking team have (CM, RM, ST) 

** Coned off area is the GK box. 



Player actions: 

#7, #11 - Recognizing when to pass or dribble 

#9 - Movement to support and create 2v1 situation 


The defending team score by winning possession back and getting the ball into the mini goal positioned on the end line. 



Progression: If the defending team win possession of the soccer ball they're able to dribble anywhere over the end line. 



Progression 2: Add a CM for the blues therefore the session becomes 4v3 in favor of the team defending the goal. (Blues)


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Stage 2

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Stage 2
Save Image: Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Stage 2 Create Video:

Stage 2 (35 mins)

In this stage have the players attacking towards a regular goal on half a soccer field, the whites will be attacking in a (3-2 formation) while the blues have a (1-3-3 formation) The objective of the game is for the whites to get the ball into goal scoring opportunities from wide areas due to the opponents compactness in central areas. 



Condition:

To encourage play in wide areas the whites score two points if they create a goal from the wide areas (coned in diagram) This condition should force players to spread out and use the space in wide areas.

If the blues intercept possession they score by getting the ball into the mini goals which represent their two strikers. 





Emphasize the important of spreading out and utilizing space in wide areas we're specifically looking to attacking this space however looking to also drag the full back across and the #9 move to create a 2v1 situation to get in behind. 

If the whites are unable to penetrate due to the organization of the blues then can we switch the point of attack and look to stretch the opponents to create problems the other side. 



Progression: Reduce the width of the field 30 yards x 35 depth


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Stage 3

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Stage 3
Save Image: Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Stage 3 Create Video:

Stage 3 (35 mins)

In this stage the set up is very similar however add a third target making it easier for the blues to score a point, as a result the whites will need to be much better in possession of the ball otherwise Blues will score easier points. Remove the wide zones in which players could score two points, by now players should naturally be wanting to use the wide from the success in the previous stage. 



Make sure the blues are remaining compact and organized and hard to break down centrally which as a result forced us to play wide. 

See in the diagram how the #7 is with the ball on the right side, dragging the LB across which is the moment the #9 should look to slide over to create a 2v1 to gain an advantage and goal scoring opportunity in behind. 

Progression: Remove the goals and create an end zone with two target players which represent their forwards which are able to receive the balls at any times from the blues. 



Player actions: 

#7, #11 - Recognizing when to pass or dribble 

#9 - Movement to support and create 2v1 situation once full back slides across


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Stage 4

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Stage 4
Save Image: Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Stage 4 Create Video:

Stage 4 (15 mins)

In the final stage have the whites set up in a (1-1-3-2 formation) and the blue team playing in a (1-2-3-1 formation) based on numbers. 



Make sure players are referring back to the TTP's (Attacking team and Defensive team)  



See in the diagram how the whites are utilizing the space on the right side of the field, this should make the blues transition across. If not the white attacks towards goal however see in the diagram how the LCB slides across. This is a visual for the #9 to slide and create a 2v1 situation and a goal scoring opportunity in behind. 



Progression: Reduce the size of the field, put the goals on the edge of the boxes to prevent as much space to play and cone off 10 yards on each side of the field making it significantly tighter to challenge the attacking teams. 



Player actions: 

#7, #11 - Recognizing when to pass or dribble 

#9 - Movement to support and create 2v1 situation once the full backs slide across


Build 3D sessions in seconds
Access to 1000’s of sessions
Professionalise and modernise your coaching
Used by the world’s best coaches
US$
75
per year
Join today

© Copyright 2026 Sport Session Planner Ltd.

Animation Controls (PCs, Macs, Laptops):

Play animation
Play step-by-step
Repeat (toggle)
Full Screen
Pause
Stop

Back/Forward: Drag timeline button