Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Session Plan 1 & Reflections: Final Third (In possession Specific to SSG)

SSG

SSG:

Blue team: 1-2-2-3 (8 players) Working from the back 11V11 1-4-3-3 I have removed two defenders and a midfielder but added a keeper for SSG.

Red team: 1-3-3-1 (8 players) Working from the back 11V11 1-4-4-2 I have removed one defender one midfielder and a striker.

Total number of players: 16 players.

Pitch size: Half pitch.

Duration of the session: 20 mins of small sided game.

Conditions, Challenges & Targets: After the initial specific practice of 10 minutes and 1 minute break, we will go into a small sided game with the target of scoring for both teams for more realism, but reds have to score in 10 seconds again so blues get the ball early. I will still challenge the blues with a 15 second target to score and finish off the move with a final pass & shot on goal. In the small sided game I will remove the condition I put on the reds defender for more realism. Also bonus points will be added to the blues if they pass the ball wide as to the touchline, while the striker stay as deep as in line with the backline of the reds and target scoring with risk taking passes and shots. Final third is all about, expressions at goal, taking risks, making quick decisions, stretching the defenders to the touchline to expose them and create space to take on them and pushing their backline as deep as the final third becomes deadly to defend with our attackers directly going at them.

Problem 1: Centrally a narrow defense difficult to make a pass or shot.

Solution: Force them wide to touchline, use the width and depth for the final pass and finish.

Problem 2: Deep defensive line with good ability to defend.

Solution: Risk take, go for shots on goal even at the edge of the box. In Final third risk taking and targeting a result is key be it a final pass or going straight on goal with a ambitious effort.

Reflections: 

Wide players going in line with the touchline impressed me while we attacked the final third. The use of width and the striker staying in line with the backline gave us good depth to attack flawlessly in the final third. I think the walk through at the start of the session and the specific practice gave a good eye opener and had a good impact to achieve these good plays. The terminal coaching in between the specific practice and small sided game also gave a positive impact on more realism, risk taking and playing without fear of making a mistake in the game as I asked the blues that do not fear of having a miss pass as we need risk taking at the final third to achieve success. I need to improve my coaching position though as I was too into the side of play. I believe a more central and deeper position would give me a better view of the whole final third and concurrently coach the boys to use both width and length when or if there is a difficulty to make the final pass or shot happen. I learnt that the players enjoyed and performed more realistic in the small sided game with less conditions. My action plan for next time would be to have a better deeper coaching position, use 11 V11 on full pitch and try improvising this session on a bigger frame to see how realistic and how much players understood the principles.