Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Sam Holmshaw - UEFA B - Session 4 - Breaking lines

Specific practice (Set up)

Set up:  

Half pitch, one 11 - a - side goal, and add two mini goals at the other end, positioned in the half space channels.

7 vs 7 specific practice.

Using cones, mark out the half space areas.

Cone to reference defensive shape positioning.

Attacking team (focus team) of 7 simulating 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 (remove two full backs and number 10). Defensive team (managed team) set up as 4 - 4 - 2 (remove two wingers and strikers).

Managed team: Red

Focus team: Black

Specific practice (problem 2)

Problem 2: Opposition set up in a high press

Managed team 

Setting up the problem:

Team challenged to press high, defensive line no lower than the reference point to start. Defence to only drop back after the final third is penetrated.

Managing opposition: 

Back four high and in line with the mannequins as reference point, 10m apart in length. Full backs to position on line between half/wide space. Trigger for full backs to press when ball played to opposition winger. Upon full back pressing, opposite full back to tuck in and leave furthest player, maintaining 10 yard distance.

Both 6's start to mark opposition 8's. Nearest 6 may press CB in possession with second 6 coming across to man mark opposition 8. 

Challenge: Challenge the opposition to press high, putting pressure on the opposition and trying to intercept passes.

Target: Each time the opposition wins the ball, they gain a point, if they can then score, they gain 3 points.

Conditions: 

Defensive team has a time limit of 8 seconds to score.

Solution - CB plays Bounce pass into 11 to play through into 9

As 4 receives the ball, nearest 11 quickly moves wide touching sideline. 4 plays a pass into 11 who bounces a pass back to 4. As 4 plays into 11, 9 makes third man run moving across into the gap between opposition 3 and 5 or 5 and 4. Upon 4 receiving bounce pass from 11, 4 attempts to play through the line into 9.

Challenge: Challenge the attacking team to use OTB movement quickly to create options for bounce passes. Challenge the striker to find positions in-between the defence to create an option to play through the line.  

Target: If the attacking team can score by breaking the line, they will gain 3 points.

8's to start in central channels, pushing forwards into the final third , about 10m apart, CB's in half space channels. Wingers start in half space, 9 positioned infront of either opposition 4 or 5.

Play through, Play around, Play over 

Ball speed

1 & 2 touch play

Receving on the back foot, open body shape

Angle & Positioning to create passing lane

Small sided game (problem 1)

Problem 1 (revisited): Opposition set in a low block

Managed team

Setting up the problem: Defensive team sit in a low block, around 10m apart in formation. 6's challenged to stay 10m infront, with 9 10m infront and the only player allowed to put pressure on opposition CB's.

Managing opposition: 

Defensive team positioned behind mannequin reference point to start.

Back four keeping narrow and compact, challenged to stay 8 - 10m apart within a unit of defensive lines, shifting across and as unit left or right to follow play.

Trigger for right/ left back to leave 18 yard box and press is when wingers receive the ball. Closest CB shift across in line with edge of 18 yard box, second CB moves in line with front post, full back comes across in line with goalkeeper. Essentially defending 3 zones of the pitch.

Depending on side, the RB or LB must come across in line with 6 yard box sideline.

Two 6's narrow and compact 10 yards apart, sitting in-front of back four, shuffling left or right to follow play. Triggers points for 6's to press and move to half space is when opposite number 8 receives the ball.

Challenge: Challenge the managed team to stay narrow and compact, protect the middle and protect space in behind to prevent opposition from breaking lines.

Condition: Managed team cannot progress past the red line until the win the ball & must defend only 3 zones of the pitch.

if play left or right, all players shifting across.

Upon winning the ball, they have 8 seconds to attempt to score a goal, otherwise the play restarts.

Target: The managed team will gain a point for each time they prevent the focus team scoring a goal (ball out of play, goalkeeper saves). If they can go on to score, they will gain 3 points.

Solution - 8 plays a bounce pass into 11 to play around the line.

4 plays into 8 who then plays a bounce pass into 11. 11 plays back to 8 and then makes a quick run in behind around the full back using a curved run.

Third man movement, 11 (LW) makes a run into the box aiming to position at back post, whilst 9 makes a run towards the front post,  8 (LCM) makes a run towards the goalkeeper whilst 4 who pushes forwards makes a run at the edge of 18 yard box.

8 plays into 11 who attempts to score or play into 9 at front post or 11 at the back post or 4 at edge of 18 yard box.

If lane is blocked, 8 plays back into 6 and try opposite side.

Target: If the attacking team can score by playing around the line, they will gain 3 points.

8's to start in half space channels, CB's in central space about 10m apart. Wingers start in wide space, 9 positioned infront of either opposition 4 or 5.

Play through, Play around, Play over 

Ball speed

1 & 2 touch play

Receving on the back foot, open body shape

Angle & Positioning to create passing lane