Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Specific Practice 1 - Breaking the Lines

Initial Set up

Situation: 

Red team have regained the ball after an attack by the yellow team with the full back, Number 2 taking the ball up the pitch. 

Yellows are in a fairly decent shape and have enough players back to deal with the red's attack.

If at any point during the drill yellows win it back they can score into the two mini goals to simulate playing the ball out to one of their attacking players.

My aim will be to coach reds to find options of playing through the lines or switching the play to find goal scoring opportunities

Progression 1 - B

Progression 1 - B 

We would expect the Yellow Fullback number 3 to press the ball. And we would expect the Yellow CB number 4 to track his man inside. 

Number 8 looks to identify the space and makes either an underlapping or overlapping run depending on how the play develops. 

The Yellow 8 now has a decision to make of whether or not to track his runner (Red Number 8) or to stay and mark the space (play zonal). 

If he decides to track the Red Number 8, then Red number 10 moves quickly to take the inside space right (shaded) and can either shoot or play passes from the number 10 inside space.

If Yellow number 8 plays zonal and holds the space then the ball to break the lines is played through by Red Number 2 to Red Number 8. 

If Red Number 2 get stuck then Red Number 6 uses sharp movement to stay away from the number 10 and recycle the ball from the full back if necessary. 

Red Number 7 still thinks about making his run towards the back posts but aims to time his run in.

Red Number 7, Red Number 9 and Red Number 11 aim to occupy spaces in front of the back post, near post and penalty spot but can use their movement and timing to overlap positions and interchange as the play is developing all whilst staying onside. 

The aim is to stay in the yellows blind spot and if possible see the back of their shirt or their player number.

If at any point any player feels that a cross or breaking lines pass is even if it doesn't correspond to this exact pattern of play they are free to play it. The idea is to feel like they have a initial solution to breaking down this low block but they are also free to use their own iniatiative should an excellent attacking opportunity become available.