Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Wave attack - meso cycle 4 - session 2

Condensing play and Switching Play (25 mins)

Session Title: Condensing Play - Switch of Play

Learning Objectives:

• Players to Want the ball - be able to support and be confident to play
• Players to be Share the ball - can we control and pass in two touch and keep the play moving
• Players to understand space - how to keep width and depth and create space for themselves and their teammates.

Area size: 40 x 30     Blocks/Reps: 6 x 3 mins with 60 sec rest

Organisation:

The pitch is setup into 3 vertical thirds. Initially the teams allocate two players from each team to start in the wide areas. Everyone else is locked into the middle zone to condense the play.

Aim is for the team to score as normal but they must pass the ball outside first before they can score. 

After a couple of blocks the game will progress so that no players are restricted but play must still enter a wide area. This way we can see if players keep width when they don't need to stay in that zone.

If we allocate an Defensive Development Coach the challenge for the team out of possession (once we progress to open play) is to cover 2/3 thirds of the pitch. These 2 thirds must be the central third and the third the ball is located. This challenge encourages the defending team to be compact out of possession and condense the play to restrict the attacking team space to play in. 

Progressions:

Play becomes not restricted so players can move freely

The second challenge is for the attacking team to switch the play through the three vertical thirds.If they are successful in doing this they will be rewarded with 2 goals shall they score.

Regressions:   

• Keep players restricted if they don't get it once we progress

Coaching Points:

• Body Position - Open body shape to receive on back foot and play quickly
• First Touch - Out of body and into space to pass first time
• Weight and Accuracy of pass - To allow receiving player to control first time and play quickly
• Play through or Around - Once they have played wide can they score by playing through the opposition - if not can they switch to play around.
• Want The ball - Be confident to receive and play
• Share the ball - Move the ball quickly and share with teammates
• Understanding of space - Where you as a player can be to creat space for yourself or your teammates e.g keeping width and depth.

Game model/Principle of Play: - Wave Attack