Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Counter Attack thru the MIddle using FB, CM, ST

Warm Up - FIFA (10 mins)

Organization:

-Cones placed 5 meters a part for a total of 20 meters with 4 cones placed on each side of the grid 3 meters from the interior cones

-Movements at 50 %,increase load/% as you progress

-Movements will be done 2x each, except jog (3x) and accelerations (2x)

Continuous Movement (Phase 1)

-Jog

-Jog/back-peddle alternating

-High knees

-Butt kicks

-Shuffling

-Karaoke

-Wrap Around

Dynamic movements (Phase 2)

-A Skip

-B Skip

-Open the gate

-Close the gate

-Double step leg kicks

-Leg Swings/Opposite Hands

-Kick and twist

Neural Prepatory Phase (PHase 3)

-45 degree angle cuts

-2 footed jump x 2 and accelerate @ 70%

-2 lunges and accelerate @ 70%

-Quick feet(horizontal shuffle between yellow cones) and accelerate 80%

-Quick Feet (High Knees between yellow cones) and accelerate 80%

Technical Component (Phase 4)

-Possession based activities with the ball

Warm up - Technical (10 mins)

Organization:

Two 15x15 yard grids are created side-by-side as shown in Diagram (b) below. Goalkeepers are positioned at each end of the grids to act as target players. A 4v4 is organized in each grid as shown. The setup is repeated to accommodate the entire team. Note - Two games of 4v4 are illustrated

Instructions:

One player from the defending team must remain in the opposite grid as shown above. The other 3 teammates must attempt to gain possession from the 4 opposing players. This creates a numbers-down situation for the defensive team and forces them to work as a "unit" to regain possession. If the defensive team wins possession they must quickly switch the ball to their teammate in the opposite grid. Immediately they must travel to support the play. In the Diagram above, Player (A) has won possession of the ball and quickly passes to his/her teammate in the opposite grid. The blues will now transition quickly to support the play while the yellow team must send over 3 players to defend. Points are awarded for a successful "switch" and 7 consecutive passes.

Coaching Points:

• Work together to defend as a "unit"

• Attempt to regain possession quickly.

• Immediately look to switch the ball on gaining possession.

• Travel quickly to support the play.

Progressions:

Activity #1 - 3 Teams Transition Game (15 mins)

3 teams transition game

Field size based on number of players and age. Great game for the 1/3 of an indoor pitch with 3 teams of 5 but can certainly be done on the bigger scale.

Team 1 attacks team 2 and tries to score, once they have completed their attack either by scoring or losing possession, team 2 attacks team 3 and team 1 takes over on defense in the space they just attacked.

Coaching points

Transition attacking (where to attack, spacing, speed of play)

Transition defense (how to slow down the ball first to allow time for your team to get back)

Progressions or simply different versions

#1. If the attackign team scores, they get to stay on offense (rewards the team for scoring and makes it even more competitive

#2. When the attacking team losses the ball, they can defend in the offensive third until the team defending manages to bring the ball to the middle third (help to promote defending immediately when you lose the ball since the defense that just won the ball is at it's most vulnerable position to retain possession)

#3 Have a surplus of attackers vs defenders with recovery defenders coming into the play (I use this in my indoor pitch and do 3 vs 2 with 1 recovery defender coming from half. It forces the spped of play to pick up and gets more communication from the defense with respect to positioning and who to take on the counter attack.