This week's exercises are from our book, 'Coaching Soccer Champions'
Breakout Game
Use 3 equal zones of 30 - 35 yards across the full width of the pitch – playing 8 v 8 with 2 keepers
Teams play a possession game in the middle zone and on a turnover, the team winning the ball, should release the deepest player to go to goal. The player with the ball should look for and find that player and deliver a ball that will take that best chance possible to score. Any delay in the action will result in lower percentage chance at goal. You may choose to release a chasing defender or not. When the keeper gets possession, the ball is played back into the middle zone and possession starts.
Coaching Points
- Look for cooperation and communication when the ball changes to the attacking team. The timing of the run and the ball will be crucial to the success of the breakout.
- Defenders try to deal the ball being played into the attacking zone -- put immediate pressure on the player with the ball.
- Keeper must be in a position to challenge for the entry pass should it be misplayed.. If the keeper makes a save or the shot is off target, the keeper restarts play with the defending team releasing a player back to receive the ball from the keeper.
