Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Drive into space to create a 2 v 1 or disrupt opponent's defence (Start Time: 2022-06-01 17:30:00)

Warm-up/Passing practice (10 mins)

Rules

20m long by 10m wide grid, with two defenders stationed on the half way and end line, which are marked out by poles.

Two attackers go forward at a time with the first trying to dribble to draw the defender towards them so they can pass to their teammate or dribble through to the next zone.

They then try beat the last defender. Defenders can't move off the line until the attackers have entered their zone.

After each wave attackers replace defenders and defenders go to the back of the line to become attackers.

First couple minutes should be completed with only passive defending at slow pace to get players used to the game and allow them to warm up, with dynamic stretching after the first break.

Either play one game to provide long rest times, or separate into two to increase intensity.

Progressions

- Increase/decrease size and width of pitch.

- Increase to 3v2 (pending numbers) to make more difficult for attacking players.

- Add goals for attackers to score in at far end and defenders to score in if they win possession of the ball.

Influence/Encourage

- Can players dribble with the ball between their legs so the defender is unsure which way they'll go.

- Drive towards the defender at pace with changes of direction to draw them to you and open a passing lane to your teammate.

- Discuss the importance of a change of pace and use of skills/turns to disrupt and engage an otherwise patient defender.

- Offball attacker should time run so they have an angle to receive from the ball carrier.

Game Training

Organisation

Small sided game played across one half of the pitch with a safety buffer at the 6 yard box. Portable Goals are set up on each side, with the lines from the positioning game used as offside lines on each side.

Game is played 7 v 7 + 2GKs, with both teams in a 1-2-4-1  formation. The wide players are to act as full backs in defence and wingers in attack.

Rules/Tasks

Aim of the game is to score goals by pulling opposition defence out of shape and creating 2 v 1 opportunities.

When ball leaves field of play, it restarts with the goalkeeper of the coach's choosing. Attacking players cannot enter area beyond offside lines unless ball is played in or defenders drop in to receive the ball.

Team task/Challenge: When you have space in front of you can you drive/dribble into it do pull a defender out of position?

Player tasks

When you do not have support and have space in front of you, dribble towards a teammate to create a 2v1 advantage.

Try to get goal side of your marker as much as possible when your team has possession/move between the lines.

Centre backs and keeper use 3v1 advantage to move the ball from side to side with until a CB is free to dribble forward and create an overload.

If you are 1 v 1 can you use a bit of skill or improvisation to get past your immediate opponent and draw the covering defender towards you. This should create an overload or 2 v1 somewhere down the line.

When you are wide and cannot get past your immediate opponent can you dribble inside to pull the first defender out of position?

If a wide player dribbles inside and pulls their marker with them, can another play make an overlapping forward run into the space they leave, creating a 2 v 1?

Coaching points/Checklist

Be mobile and move off the ball when in position, make forward runs as often as you can.

Look for opportunities to create 2 v 1s.

In 2 v 1 situations, use wall passes when necessary to get beyond the defender.

First touch forward whenever possible.

Scan when receiving/receive on half turn to immediately dribble forward into space if you are not marked.