Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Exploit #'s up in wide space- Patterns

Initial

Initial setup:

Red team - 5 players; full back and winger, centre mid, and then two flat strikers or a 9 and 10

Yellow team - 4 players (inc. GK); full back and winger and a single CB

Focus:

2v1 in wide areas, finishing is a by product of drill. If there is no end-product, improve wide areas first, if not possible, use a feeder (in green) to supply winger/full-back with a free-ball to cross in.

Walkthrough:

CM passes to full-back outisde zoned area, who then goes forward and looks to create 2v1 against opposite winger using the attacking winger. Defending full-back must start behind the red line until attacking full-back enters the area. End product is a cross into the box for 9 or 10 to finish.

Coaching points:

- good initial ball

- full-back to enter area with intensity, but awareness of wingers movement (both attacking and defending wingers)

- attacking wingers movement - do I go wide, or inside? Can I stretch the pitch long and come short to receive, or if the opposite full-back comes out too quickly, come short to go long.

Involving the number 10

Progression:

If the full-back and winger are being marked tight and cannot create a 2v1, allow the number 10 to be used as a receiver. They can then look to release a wide player into the crossing zone. Note, do not allow the winger to be lazy with their movement, this pass should be played onto a running winger, not one who has run beyond the line and waited for the pass - this would likely to be offside.

The opposite CB only marks the number 9 at first, but then is allowed to pressure the number 10 after a few goes (do not allow number 10 to have too much time) - allowing the number 9 a free finish.