Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Week 6 - Movement off the ball (Start Time: 2017-10-25 19:00:00)

Warm Up - Combination Play (10 mins)

Set up:

20x20 yard grid, 2 players on each base as 2 'inner players'

Swap 'inner players' after 2 minutes

Objective:

- Mixture of short and long passing

- Middle players combining to perform quick pass/ release outer player

Instructions:

- 2 players in the middle receive the ball from a player on the outside of the square.

- Inside player receiving the ball passes to the other inside player, to pass towards the outer player.

- Outer player receives the ball upon movement to the next base (anti-clockwise direction) and passes the ball in their direction.

Coaching Points:

- Quick, one touch passing (if possible from type of pass received)

- Variation of short and long passing

- Continuous movement

- Competition; which inner players can make the most passes in the allocated period of time?

6v6 variable/ random (20 mins)

6v6 (variable-random) practice

Teams:

Orange + Green GK

White + Yellow GK

Setup:

- Create 35x50 area, with 2 goals facing outwards in the middle of the area.

- 6v6 with a goalkeeper, 2 'outer' players and 3 'inner players'.

Objective:

- Progressing from the previous exercise, players aim is to try and retrieve the ball from the opposition, and 'switch the play'.

- By switching play, inner players will look to find an outer player for a returned pass, so that inner players can shoot.

- By focusing on movement off the ball and switching play upon retrieving, players are encouraged to find spaces to explode into/ exploit.

Coaching Points:

- Let players make their own decisions regarding positions on the pitch, if they feel that they are being exploited, team mates will communicate to eliminate the issue (more support required in defence)

- Do each team have a game plan on how to retrieve the ball and attack as a team/ unit to overload the opposition, or are teams playing in fixed positions on the pitch? Discuss and compare with each team.

- Can players look for an early pass to the outside of the pitch, in order to attack early? Is this working with effectiveness or not?

Progressions:

- Inner player passing the ball outside must recieve the ball and can be the only player that shoots. - Can defenders close down quick enough? - How must this player recieve the ball? Half turn or through ball?

- Players on the outside can come into the pitch upon recieving the ball, passer to retreat to the outside of the pitch. (Switch positions)

- Both outer players to come inside once one player has passed outside of the area (2 inner players to leave the pitch)