Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Breaking Lines

Breaking lines (20 mins)

General practice in possession, coaching the RED team but also managing the BLUE team

Welsh way principles - Breaking lines

Can we play through, around and over

Area Size 18yard x 14 yard with a half way line

5 x 2.5 min with 1.5 minute set aside for terminal feedback in the breaks.

The Session Details

4v4 in the middle with 3 common players (Yellow) in the middle

Team in possession try and play through the opposition and score by transfering the ball from one end yellow player to the other. If they are sucsessfull they can maintaing possession of the ball. Teams in possession can use the yellow common players that creates a 7v4.

Key points

The coach is to work with both teams in a rotation for this example I'm coaching the RED team in possession. This will swap with each block. The yellow player on the outside will also swap in the middle after each block.

1. Make the pitch big (Width and Depth)

2. Try to play through, around and over

3. Can we move the ball quicker

4. Can we entice the defender to create more space to go forward

5. Look to play forward

6. Recieve on the half turn, on the back foot, check shoulders

Blue Team will be managed to be realistic in their press

1. Defend narrow

2. Force out wide

3. Protect the middle

4. Prevent split passes

1st block - Through the lines via yellow

2nd block - around the middle

3rd block - over

4th block - conditions, 1 or 2 touch, more points for a split pass, move the ball as quickly as possible

5th block - allow to play

Conditions, Challenges and Targets RED team

1. Players try to break the lines of the BLUE team with a split pass for each they will score 3 points and by going around they will score 1 point.

2. Can't play long, outside common player to the other outside common player.

3. Outside players limited to 3 touch but must pass in 3 sec

Defensive team BLUE

1. Restrict touches

2. Restrict time

3. Extra point if they fail to pass through the middle

SSG - def to Mid (5 mins)

2nd block - play through / around - defense to midfield

CB recieves the ball from the goalkeeper

The Centre back must now look to play directly into one of the CM's. This can be done on a rotation of the 2 CM to create the space to pass into. The CM is then looking to pass into the full back. Full back starts just in front the centre back and makes the movement once the ball is played from goalkeeper to CB.

The CM can also recieve the ball and look to pass into the 10 breaking the line between the 2 red CM's

Problem 1

If the striker cuts of the passing angle then the 2nd CM drops to make the angle for the 2nd pass. Managing the 2nd striker to cut the pass to the oposite CB will open up the passing line in the centre. This can be done if the pass is on between the CM and CB or the CB can go backwards and use the goalkeeper to make the pass.

Problem 2

If the two red strikers go high and press against my 2 blue CB, then the goalekpper can look to go striaght into the midfield or to the number 10.