Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Main Session - Game play in Zones

1v1 in Zones (15 mins)

Set Up:

Divide field into 3rds

Mark out "Green" and "Red" End Zones

9 players, (3v3+3) or 11 (4v4+3) if coaches play too

Instructions:

Objective: Get the ball from the "back" to the "front"

Players should always start each round from their zones

Play starts with the neutral player at an end.

When play starts, all players should stay inside their zone, however players can move into different zones after play starts

If the white team can successfully play into the green zone, play switches to the black team tries to play into the red zone

Players should swap starting positions semi regularly, (#2 becomes a #7, #6 becomes a #10 etc)

Variation/Progression:

Add in 2 Coach Players

Players can try and score if they can get the ball onto one of the end zones

Key Coaching Points:

Players should make sharp movements, time their runs and look for overlapping runs to create overloads

Midfielders should always be moving into and out of "helping positions"

Teams can always play back to end neutral player as a safety option.

Players should be mindful that sometimes the way forward is by switching play, and using the other side of the field.

Player Coaching Points:

#3 should always look for movement of players that "want" the ball

#2 & #5 should look for give and goes, or driving runs depending on what the defending team are giving them or taking away

#6 & #10 should be "coming in to help" or "getting out to create space" with their movement

#7 & #11 should receive the ball "on the run" and should try and be "goal side" or "inside" their defender