Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Make forward runs to receive a pass near goal (Start Time: 2022-07-06 17:30:00)

Passing Practice (15 mins)

Rules

Passing practice with minimum of 12 players.

Grid laid out in diamond with five poles all about 10m apart (or more/less depending on technical ability of players).

Ball starts with 1, who passes to 2 to control on back foot and pass to 3. Each player follows pass and joins queue at next station after playing the ball forward.

3 plays a 1-2 with 4, playing their second pass to 1 to restart the sequence, moving into position 4, while 4 moves to back of line at 1. Play restarts straight away.

Both sides of the grid go at the same time, with players able to cross over at station 1.

Complete 4-5 sets of 2-3mins each, with 30 sec. to 1min. break for dynamic stretches.

Progressions

- Increase pace of movement

- Add second ball on each side to increase pace once players are comfortable

- Player at 2 plays a wall pass with 1, who plays through to 3.

- Player who is second in line puts passive pressure on the receiver to force them to take first touch under pressure

- Player at 1 provides call for either wall pass or turn and play to player 2. Player 2's decision should be based on communication from 1, which should be based on movement of 2 in relation to passive defender.

- Ball must be passed first time if too easy for players.

Influence/Encourage

Take first touch on inside of back foot when possible

Base movement/decisions on pressure

Move forward quickly whenever you can, and use lateral movement to create passing angles

When playing a 1-2 do not move directly at the player receiving your pass, move on angle/laterally to create an angle to receive the wall pass.

Move forward quickly after playing a wall pass to simulate losing a marker

Ball speed and precision of passing

Game Training (30 mins)

Rules



5v5 game + GK. Red team with a 8, 10, 7, 11 and 9 against blue team with GK, back four and 6.

Pitch is ~40-45m long with a 5m receiving zone just outside the penalty area.

Ball always restarts with red team midfielders. They aim to play the ball into the receiving zone for a red attacker making a forward run. Once they receive the ball red attackers can go forward and join in the attack.

If blue team wins possession they can move anywhere to play the ball, but must score in the three goals in front of halfway within 20 seconds.

To start with blue defenders cannot defend in the receiving zone. 

After red team has had success playing in, blue defenders can drop back to provide realism of recovering defenders, but not before ball has been played in.

Team task

When our teammate is facing forward and can play a through-ball behind the defence, can we make a forward run to receive the ball close to goal.

Player tasks

Position yourself level and outside your immediate opponent before you look to receive the ball.

When you receive the ball behind the defensive line, can you take your first touch forward and towards goal?

If a 7 or 11 has the ball in a crossing position, can the 9, 10 and 7/11 on the opposite side make a forward run into the penalty area towards the goal to provide multiple crossing targets?

When is the best time to make a forward run?

When your immediate opponent looks at the ball and you are out of sight can you make a forward run into the space behind them.

If you cannot dribble forward past your immediate opponent, use a wall pass to receive the ball in the space behind them.

When your immediate opponent slows down or stops, is there an opportunity to accelerate and move into the space beyond them.

When you receive the ball can you take it on the inside of your back foot so you can face and play forward?

As you receive the ball scan for players making forward runs towards goal. Can you play into their path so they can run onto the ball facing forward?

Can multiple players make forward runs at the same time, so the player on the ball has more than one option, and can use some as decoys?

Do not make a forward run if there is no space behind the defence. In those situations come short or level with ball carrier to support and draw your opponent away from goal.

If you have been making forward runs and you are not receiving the ball, do not stop being proactive, you could be creating space for other players, or you may need to improve your communication to encourage teammates to pass you the ball.

Progressions

 - Defenders can recover into receiving zone when the ball is played in or their immediate opponent makes a forward run inside.

- Change time limit for defending team to score, or introduce time limit for attacking team to increase urgency and simulate recovering midfield defenders.

- Change location of receiving zone, or extend to anywhere outside the penalty area to improve realism.

- Remove receiving zone if satisfied players can make decisions on where to move without the limitation.