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Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): THROUGH-BALLS & RUNS IN BEHIND

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Graeme Smaill

Profile Summary

Graeme Smaill
Name: Graeme Smaill
City: Dunedin
Country: New Zealand
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): END-ZONE GAME

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): END-ZONE GAME
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END-ZONE GAME

END-ZONE GAME

AIM - The aim of this session is to improve our penetration in central areas through movement that creates passing lanes for through balls, and runs in behind that create attacking angles to receive the pass.

FUNCTION

  • Playing area to suit ability and number of players... Here we have 6v6 playing on a 25m x 25m central area with two 5m end-zones.
  • 6v6 directional game, with each team attacking towards one end-zone each.
  • Players look to dribble into or receive a through-ball in the end-zone.
  • The 'red' end line before the end-zone acts as an offside line.
  • Scoring = dribble into end zone 1 point; receive a through-ball in the end-zone 3 points. 

COACHING DETAIL

Making the Run

  • Timing is everything, and a run in behind should only be made when the player on the ball, or receiving it, is in a position to immediately play a through-ball.
  • A cue for the runner is often a player making a short dribble or receiving a sideways pass, as these give the player passing the best view of the pitch.
  • Identify the space to attack and make the run before the pass is played.
  • Blind-side runs... can you position to take advantage of the blind side run? Can you position to see the number on the back of your defenders shirt, if so you will have an opportunity to start your movement before the defender realises and reacts.

Making the Pass

  • Early through-balls... the first couple of seconds of the possession are most effective, as they are played before the defensive team has time to organise (if not on be patient and retain possession).
  • Passing player see the space, and see the runner.
  • What is the best pass to make... straight ball for angled run, angled ball for straight run.
  • Weight of the pass crucial.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): DIAGONAL VARIATION

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): DIAGONAL VARIATION
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DIAGONAL VARIATION

DIAGONAL VARIATION

AIM: The most effective through-balls do not travel directly towards goal but are instead played at an angle, therefore we are now promoting the use of the angled through-ball even more by adding a vertical halfway line (green line).

FUNCTION

  • Same playing conditions as in the 'End-Zone game'.
  • Possession team now scores more if the pass or run into the end-zone crosses the green verticle central line.   
  • Scoring = A pass or run into the end-zone that crosses the red central line 3 points; any other kind of through-ball into the end-zone 2 points;  dribble into end-zone 1 point.
  • In the first animation  we see Blue score 3 points by playing a through-ball across the green central line to a runner in the end-zone, and in the second animation we see Blue score 3 points by a player making an angled run across the green central line to receive a ball in the end-zone. 

COACHING DETAIL

  • The attacking team should now look to pair diagonal runs with straight passes or straight passes with diagonal runs, using the green central line as a reference.
  • Same coaching detail points as per the previous 'End-Zone game'.



Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): HALF-SPACE VARIATION

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): HALF-SPACE VARIATION
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HALF-SPACE VARIATION

DIAGONAL VARIATION

AIM: To increase player understanding and use of the half-spaces to allow us play more successful through-balls.

FUNCTION

  • Same playing conditions as in the 'End-Zone game'.
  • The vertical halfway line has now been removed and replaced by two vertical half-spaces highlighted by the green lines in the diagram. 
  • Scoring = A through-ball from a half-space to a runner in the end-zone is worth 3 points (with rewards in place for passing from these areas, players will implicitly occupy them more often); any other kind of through-ball into the end-zone 2 points;  dribble into end-zone 1 point.
  • Another condition to help coach effective through-balls is to award double points if the through-ball is the first pass played after regaining possession (this however needs to be monitored to ensure the players don't get into a habit of forcing the through-ball).

COACHING DETAIL

  • Players should look to identify and occupy the half-spaces.
  • Teammates should look to find players in the half-space, which will frequently be through a short sideways pass. 
  • Same coaching detail points as per the previous 'End-Zone game'.



Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): END ZONES AND GOALS

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): END ZONES AND GOALS
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END ZONES AND GOALS

END-ZONES AND GOALS

FUNCTION

  • 8v8 + GK's (or similar)
  • Adjust field to suit, here we have - end-zones 24m long, central-zone approximately 40m long and full pitch width.
  • Play starts with a pass into the central-zone, players to remain in central-zone until attack through-ball played or player dribbles into an end-zone.  Once this happens no restrictions on who may enter the end-zone (can limit the number of defending players who may enter).
  • The top of end end-zone is the offside line.
  • If a goal is scored, goes out or is held by the GK play resumes with a pass into the central-zone.
  • Scoring = successful through ball into end-zone 1 point... Additional 3 points if the through-ball leads to a goal; score after dribbling into end-zone 2 points.

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