By Sean Reed -
Objective
This session is pure possession using outside and target players. Maintaining possession, using the outside players and creating opportunities to play forward passes.
Session 1
Diagram 1
Set Up
- Players are divided into two teams. The size of the pitch is dependent on the coach and the number of players involved
- 4 players on positioned on the outside and can work up and down their side to support the ball
- If there is an uneven number of players then one team can have an overload and this can be changed throughout the session or use only 3 players on the outside
- To score a goal a team must make a specific number of consecutive passes for example, 6 completed passes is a goal. A pass played to and from the outside players do not count as a pass they are used to maintain possession
- The players outside only have 2 touches
- Conditions can be changed in order to challenge the players
- After a set period of time players on the outside change with players in the middle
Progressions
- Restriction on the number of touches inside the area
- The ball can not stop with the players on the outside using 2 touches
- Restrict the touches for the outside players to 1 touch
- Change the number of consecutive passes required to score a goal
- Within the number of passes required to make every player on the outside must make a pass for the goal to count
Coaching Points
- Tempo and quality of passing
- Awareness and movement to receive the ball
- Awareness and movement to create space for other players
- Timing of movement
- Angle of support
- 1st touch to open out
- Awareness and decision making for next action
Session 2
Diagram 2
[wpsharely id="1204"][/wpsharely]
Set Up
- As within the previous session
- A goal can also be scored when a 1-2 (1 touch from the outside) is played around a player from the opposition. Then a successful pass is completed
Progression
- As within the previous session
Coaching Points
- As within the previous session
- Supporting angle to play a 1-2
- Decision when to play and when not to play
- Angle of support
- Weight of pass
- Timing of movement
Session 3
Diagram 3
Set Up
- As within the previous sessions
- Two of the target players are now brought inside to support the team in possession
- The target players inside are restricted to 1 touch
- A goal is scored when the ball is worked from 1 outside target player to the other outside target player. The ball can not go directly from 1 target player to the other
Progression
- Restrict touches inside the area for players
- Restrict the outside players to 1 touch
- The player who played the ball out to the outside player can not receive the ball back straight away
- Both inside target players must make a pass before the ball can be played to the other outside target player
Coaching Points
- As within the previous sessions
- Supporting the player on the ball
- Timing of runs forward
- Recognizing and exploiting the overload
By Sean Reed
Former First Team Coach of Championship side Fulham FC. Sean is a UEFA A Coach with a Masters in Sport Coaching. He has over 15 years of experience working in professional football from Academy through to First team in the Premiership and Championship.
Linkedin - www.developmentofplayers.com
Twitter - @SeanJReed
