Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 11+ Advanced - Passing - Lofted Pass

Introduction (10 mins)

Organization:

Teams of 2 players with 1 ball.

Instructions:

-Players must be in different quadrants of the field.

-Teams earn point for each successful lofted pass completed to teammate.

-Players either must dribble into new area of the field or supporting player must move into new area of the field after each point.

Coaching Points/Questions:

-How can we loft the ball? Technical aspects of striking a lofted pass

-When should we dribble into the next space vs supporting player moving into new space?

-Why would we play a lofted pass to our teammate?

-When would be a moment in the game when we would play a lofted pass?

Regressions/Progressions:

P- Teams only score point if pass is controlled from the air

P- Players have 2 touches only.

R- Teams can earn 1 point for any successful pass to teammate but lofted passes are worth 3 points.

Progression 1 (30 mins)

Organization:

-6v6 game with 3 zones

-Defending team occupies middle / defending zone

-Attacking team occupies far target zones

Instructions:

-Same game as previous Main Activity but now the defending team can send 2 players to defend in the zone where the ball is creating a 3v2 in the target zone.

Coaching Points/Questions:

Regressions/Progressions:

Conditioned Game

Organization:

-3v3 Target Game with bumpers

Instructions:

-Red Target starts at far endzone, Yellow Target starts at near endzone

-Teams play possession game to targets to earn 1 point to play into target, 3 points when playing a lofted pass

-If one team completes pass into target, the closest teammate to the other end zone must become new target. Target that occupies that space must join game. Team that just scored will now try to attack the other side for additional points and game continues. When ball goes out of play, other team will start with a pass in from the side (additional balls should be placed there as shown)

Coaching Points/Questions:

-When is the moment to play long / lofted to high target?

-How can we play that pass? Show me what that looks like

-What would the defending team look like to allow for that pass?

Regressions/Progressions:

P- Allow defending team to press the target when target receives pass

P- 2x points for ball from opposite half

P- 2x points for target controlling out of the air

R- Play 2 fields of 3v3