Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Midfield Combination Play - U14+ Welty (Start Time: 2015-07-25 17:10:00)

Am-Club: KC Prime Soccer Club

Joshua Welty

Profile Summary

Name:	Joshua Welty
City:	Kansas City
Country:	United States of America
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Teach Midfielders combination play in midfield. This session focuses on 1-2s or give-gos. How do the players check into spaces between defenders to get the ball forward? What checking angle work? What checking angle work best? How do we tell or communicate with our team mates to do a combination? Increase the speed of play and ball movemaent by sharpening the skills involved in combination play in midfield.

Questions to Answer in this session: How, When & Where can I put myself in a position to recieve a pass, combine, and keep the play developing? Who in the midfield is most responsible for supporting runs and receiveing passes? Who is likely to play the 1st pass, 2nd, and 3rd in a game? Can we combine with a 3rd player, who was not involved in the original combination?

Visual Cues to Trigger Player Response: If there is space, get into it at an angle that you can help the play develop. If a player on the ball is under pressure, has head down, we must be closer to them, communicate our support and receive the ball away from the defensive concentration. Can the players read the play, as it develops, and get into areas to exploit 2 passes before the ball arrives?

This is a great session to work on speed of play, and the technical elements involved. The pattern of ball movement does not change much as the activities change and the practice progresses. It is also a good time to talk about tactical speed of ball movement. Because they have done the pattern 100 times by activity 3 and 4, they should be able to predict the ball movement. If the players can predict the ball movement, AND start their runs early, we should be able to surprise the defense and exploit pockets of space with quick, timely, and quality ball movement.

This is an offensive session. Make sure to only coach the offensive play and movements, especially the first time you run it. Success of players eith the ball will be reduced if the defense is well organized, especially if coached in the session. You could run the same session focused entirely on the defensive roles and resposibilities a practice or 2 later.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Warm Up: Short Passing in Pairs

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Warm Up: Short Passing in Pairs (15 mins)

Organization: Players in pairs about 5 yards apart with 2 balls. Passing 2 touch (different feet/same foot) Progess to one touch, 2 balls per pair 2 touch, then 2 balls per pair 1 touch. Good set up to do heading or head juggling in pairs if desired.

Coaching Points: On balls of feet. Stay Balanced and acive. Concentrate on good touches and quality passes with different areas of the feet. How long can they go without a poor touch? Timing and communication when using 2 balls. (When using 2 balls, balls must follow same pattern - or must stay on same side - eg: right foot to player 1 to left foot of player 2 and vice versa)

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Free Flow Combination Pattern Play

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Free Flow Combination Pattern Play (20 mins)

Organization: 5-6 Player per group (can be more when 1st introducing the pattern). 2 players star in the middle with the ball. Player with the ball passes out to any player and switches places with them, player recieves ball in grid - passes to remaining player in the grid and then becomes the next player to receive the ball from an outside player. Pattern continues.

Coaching Points: Quality of passes. Proper angle to recieve balls, open up and play ball to next person quickly. Play the way you face.. Know where you are going with the ball before you receive. Play Passes to correct foot of recieiving player. Use as much of grid as possible.

Progression: Add defender to make more game like. Can put 2 teams and play 2 groups in same grid to create more traffic/awareness of space.

Notes: You can modify for more players. I think it works best with 5-6 players. Once you get 9, I would add another ball or split into groups.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 2v2+4

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2v2+4 (20 mins)

Organization: Set up as shown in 12x12 grid. Player who passes into target, takes that players spot, while the recieving player dribbles quickly into grid and tries to get the ball to the othe target player either directly or through a combination with his team mate.

Instructions: Keep score and play 2-3 minute rounds. Should be played in a small area to demand quick play and decisions.

Coaching Points: Speed of play. Checking at correct angles. Movement before, during and after the play develops. Quick 1-2 combinations. Play ball to the correct foot. Open body to receive. Think, play, and move the ball quickly. Can enlarge the area if the players do not have success. However...larger area = slower, easier play. Make sure area of play demands improvement of players.

Notes: This activity is extremely high paced. I would recommend playing in round of 3-4 minutes, check scores, and review what worked best, and add in whatever technical/tactical information you want during the break. Keep breaks short and no longer than 90 seconds.

1-2s aren't the only way to combine, praise other options that the players come up with.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Touch Line Soccer

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Touch Line Soccer (15 mins)

Organization: 2 teams try to retain possession and move ball from side to side. When the pass into the target player, they switch places. Team scores by moving the ball from one side to the other without losing possession.

Instructions: Keep pace of play high. score game rounds in 3-4 minutes.

Coaching Points: Looking for combinations to move ball quickly. Recieving and playing to proper foot. Play the way you face. Checking into proper angles to make combinations. Change of pace when making runs to outwit the defensive players.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 8v8 Soccer

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8v8 Soccer (20 mins)

Organization: Play 8v8 to big goals with goalkeepers

Instructions: Play 5-7 Minutes with the restriction that the players must make a combination before any scoring attempt. Then, lift restriction and play regular soccer.

Coaching Points: What kind of combinations can the players make?