Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Combination play & Counter Attacks.

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Ayodeji Ogunlade

Profile Summary

Name:	Ayodeji Ogunlade
City:	Hamilton, New Jersey
Country:	United States of America
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

(1). To develop passing combinations and counter attacking skills.

(2). To teach players on how to combine and break quickly, be positive and be clinical.

(3). To give players opportunities to overload the defence and create goal scoring chances.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 4v1+1+1 Possession transfer game.

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4v1+1+1 Possession transfer game.

Organization:

- Set up as shown.

- Three attackers and one defender are placed inside the middle grid at the start of the exercise.

- Two attackers are placed in the outside grid i.e. one in each grid as shown.

Instructions:

- At the start of the exercise, the three attackers in the middle grid are looking to connect three passes and then quickly switch play into one of the two outside grid where the attackers are placed.

- Upon successful transfer of the ball into the outside grid, two players from the middle grid looks to move into the grid where the ball is to support the lone attacker in the grid to quickly connect three passes again and then look to switch the ball into the far end grid.

- Whenever the ball is played in from one end of the grid to far end of the grid, the two attackers that joined in from the middle grid look to move back to the middle grid with one making run into the far end grid while the lone attacker that was left in the middle grid look to quickly move into far end grid to provide support for the lone attacker in the far end grid. They quickly look to reconnect the three passes to transfer the ball back into the middle grid.

- If the defender wins possession or forces an error, the defender replaces the attacker that gave possession away.

- First pass is always free to allow the activity to commence.

Coaching Points/Questions:

- The supporting players must always work to offer the deepest and widest possible angles for the player in possession.

- How wide can I get to give the best possible passing lane?

- How far from the defender can I get to give the maximum time on the ball when the pass is received?

- Quick movements to create 3v1 when the ball is transferred from one grid to the next one.

- Form a triangle or a diamond around the defender.

- Attackers should always look to get out of the defender shadow.

- Open body shape to receive and play on one or two-touch.

- Accuracy of pass when switching play.

Progression:

- Two touch play.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 4v2-6v4 Attacking play.

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4v2-6v4 Attacking play.

Organization:

- Set up as shown.

- Three Blues plus goalkeeper and three Reds plus goalkeeper are placed in the end grids as shown.

- Two defenders from the opposition team are placed inside the end grids at the start.

Instructions:

- Players are divided into two teams i.e. Blues and Reds.

- 3 Blues plus their GK are positioned inside one end grid to keep the ball away from two red defenders while 3 Reds plus their GK are positioned in the other end grid to keep the ball away from two blue defenders.

- Both Blues and Reds look to play on one-two touches when playing 4v2 inside their grid.

- The defenders that first win back possession or force an error inside the opposition grid wins a counter attacking opportunity for their team, their team quickly slide across into the central grid to counter attack the opposition goal. For example if the two Blue defenders inside the Reds grid win possession, the Blue team get to quickly attack the opposition (Reds) goal. Reds quickly slide across to defend their goal with numbers down.

-The two red defenders inside the blue grid are not allowed to join play immediately when the counter attack begins, they both need to sprint around the yellow cone before joining the play in the central zone, this will provide the attacking team (Blues) numbers up / attacking overload situation before the two Red players enter the pitch.

- When the ball goes out of play on the side-lines or for a corner kick, the play restarts with a kick-in.

- Whenever the ball goes out for a goal kick, the play quickly restarts from the goalkeeper.

- All players on the attacking team must cross the halfway line for their goal to count when they finish on goal.

- Once a goal is scored, the game is over! The play goes back into the 4v2 keep-away in the end grids that was not used during the first round.

- Teams rotate their two defenders every round except the goalkeepers, they are not allowed to defend.

Coaching Points/Questions: (Attacking Team).

- Transition quickly into attacking to capitalize on the numerical advantage 6v4 and make it count before the two defenders recovers back into position.

- Mix your runs i.e. diagonal runs, overlapping & underlapping runs, third-man runs, dummy runs e.t.c. to pull defenders apart.

- Attacker on the ball should look to drive towards one of the defenders in order to draw that defender in to create space for one of the remaining attackers to exploit.

- Awareness of space, teammates and opposition players - Players should have their heads up to scan and assess where the ball, space, team mates and the opposition are.

- Providing all round support for the player on the ball i.e. sides, in front and behind.

- Counter pressing off a give away.

- On the move. How quickly can we get forward to score?

- Timing of runs is critical as offside law applies.

- Quick and decisive passing.

- End product i.e. accurate finishing.

Coaching Points/Questions: (Defending Team).

- Strong mentality to defend i.e. being brave to tackle, block shots, sprint, defend the goal, e.t.c.

- Attacking transition i.e. quick counter attacking play upon winning possession.

- Nearest player to the ball applies immediate pressure on the ball forcing play inside or outside. All other players takes good covering and balancing positions off the pressuring player.

- Recognizing when to delay the attack to allow recovering defenders back into a covering positions.

- Going against the ball and counter pressing off give-aways.

- Cut off passing lanes by closing down the player on the ball to make it a 1v1 rather than a 1v2.

- Cover central areas to potentially block the switch of play.

- Prevent opponents turning.

- Screen central forward passes.

Progression:

- Counter attacking team has 10 seconds to score.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 3v3+1v1 Counter attacking play.

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3v3+1v1 Counter attacking play.

Organization:

- Set up as shown.

- At the start of the exercise, 3 Blues and 3 Reds are placed inside the middle as shown.

- Goalkeepers starts in goal for their respective teams.

- One Blue defender is placed inside the Blues defensive half and one blue attacker is placed inside the blues attacking half, the same goes with the Reds.

Instructions:

- The conditions and rules of the game are almost the same as the previous exercise.

- Exercise starts with a 3v3 keep-away inside the middle grid as shown, upon the completion of three consecutive passes, the team in possession quickly look to break away to score on opposition goal.

- When a player breaks out after they complete the five consecutive passes, all the remaining attacking players must quickly join in to play in the attacking half.

- If the defending team wins possession, they quickly transition into attacking and look to score on the opposite end.

- Once a goal is scored, the game is over! The play goes back into the 3v3 keep-away.

Coaching Points/Questions: (Attacking Team).

- Previous attacking coaching points when applicable.

- Penetration – Exploit space with good movements with and without the ball and use of possession to an outcome.

- Flair – Individual, be inventive, produce the unexpected, run, change of pace, first touch, dribble, combination play and most importantly finish off scoring chances.

- The striker in the attacking half must be ready to either come short to receive or look to receive the ball behind the defender with clever movements.

- GK should be ready to play forward quickly upon making a save.

- Communication must be clear, loud and concise at all times.

Coaching Points/Questions: (Defending Team).

- Previous defending coaching points when applicable.

- When do we retreat and get back into a defensive posture?

- When do we counter press?

Progression:

Game progresses to a 6v6 free play.

Movement

Pass

Pitch Line 1