Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): OA3

SSG

Key Theme

• Final Third

In possession - Width and depth, risk taking, final pass, quality of the finish, fill the channels, combination play.

Out of possession - Protect the middle, force wide, stop/defend the cross, body on the line, pressure on the ball.

Organisation

• The Blues are the team being coached. They are set up in a 4-3-3, minus the full-backs, with one screen and two 10s.
• The Reds are the team being managed and they are set up in a 4-diamond-2 with the strikers missing.
• The pitch size is 60x60m with two tapered corners.
• 3x4 minute blocks with 90s break periods between blocks.
• Timings and area sizes may change with the age group, ability, fitness and goals of the session.
  
• Both teams score by scoring goals against the opposition (conditions and challenges may be added or retracted-see below).

Instructions

• Reds - 1st block defend narrow and force wide - coaching opportunities to get the Blues high and wide and get success from crosses. When the reds are in possession get them to score quickly with their midfielders - managed countdown if needed. 2nd block ask them to get more pressure on the ball wide, stop/defend the cross - this provides coaching opportunities to get the blues to fill the channels/back line, work on the final pass and risk take with passes inside. 3rd block they can play what they see - re-enforce any coaching points highlighted (repetition).
• Blues - Try and score goals both centrally and wide. 1st block - the space is out wide, get the 7 and 11 high and wide and the 9 on the back line between the CBs. 2nd block there will be space inside so look for final passes inside/reverse passes (crosses worth x2 goals to force reds wide). 3rd block is play what you see.

• Goals from crosses are worth more - forces play wide.
• Score off the first attack is worth more - quality of the finish.
• Play 2/3 touch in the opposition half - play quickly, communication, combination play and risk taking.
• Individual challenges - get 2 assists, get 2 goals, get 2 crosses - quality of the finish, combination play, width and depth.

• Clean sheet - defend narrow, body on the line pressure on the ball.
• Score quickly/counter attack - allows for repetition of the coaching theme.
• Individual challenges - stop 2 crosses, block 2 shots - defend the cross, body on the line.

• Concurrent - more in the 1st and 3rd blocks. Praise guided discovery and solutions.
• Terminal - between blocks and at the end. Added and reward challenges.
• Walk throughs and the coaching process - more in the 1st and 2nd blocks.