Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Passing - Playing through midfield & finding the striker

Passing - Playing through midfield & finding the striker (20 mins)

Key Factors

• Movement to receive the ball & timing of runs.
• Direction of first touch out of the body in order to play pass on second touch. Ability to play first time pass if possible to speed up play.
• Weight & accuracy of pass.
• Vision & decision making.
• Communication.

Organisation

• Diamond shape (midfield) with additional point (striker).
• 2 drills set up to change the direction of the passes & ensure ball rolling.
• 1) Passing around the outside of the diamond to all midfielders, then to the striker. Striker dribbles at speed to other side.
• 2) Passing around the outside of midfield diamond but wide player misses out no.10 position and plays direct to striker, striker plays 1-2 with no.10 before dribbling to next diamond.
• 3) Deeper midfielder (no.6) receives the ball and plays forward into no.10, lay off to wide player who then plays to the striker. Wide midfielder should show and be available for the initial pass from no.6, before timing the run to support and receive from no.10

Progression

• Add a defender in the middle of the diamond so when the no.6 receives the ball, the defender should block the pass either to the wide midfielder or to the no.10. The no.6 then has to get their head up and make a decision of which pass they wish to play.
• Add a second defender who will be positioned behind the no.10 to encourage good hold up play from the attacking midfielder, timing & weight of pass to wide player.

SSG - Playing Forward

Key Factors

• Aim to get the ball forward early & support the play.

Organisation

• 5 v 5 regular match with 2 wall players beside the goals they're attacking.

Conditions/Progressions

• Wall player must have touched the ball before a goal can be scored.
• Can only score with a first time finish from a pass from wall player.

• Although encouraged, don't need to use the wall players.