By Sean Pearson
Area Size: 40 x 50 yards
Teams: 7 v 7
Time: 20 Minutes
Objectives
- To build possession from the center backs
- To work together as a team to create opportunities to move the ball forward
Combination play is when 2 or more players combine passes in quick succession to move the ball up the field. Some types of combination play are well known like the give and go, overlap, underlap and third man run. In this practice we focus on the striker’s role to combine with player’s around them. Set each team up in a 2-3-1 formation both using GK’s.
The aim is for the striker and CM to split when a CB has the ball. The CM should always go in the opposite direction to the CB and the striker should be ahead of them. The CB’s try to find the striker’s feet. As the ball comes in the CM peel’s off the back of the opposing CM. The striker now sets the ball into the path of the CM.
The CM can then either A) continue to drive with the ball and shoot or B) if the defender commits, they can slide the ball into the path of the WM.
Eventually the opposite CM will start to cut off the pass to the striker. This is when you tell your players to go wide. From here can the WM commit their counterpart and play the ball into the striker. The can striker can either perform the give and go or again set one time to the CM.
Coaching Points
- Striker and Cm move oppositely so combinations can be played
- Move the ball until the scenario presents itself, do not force it
Variations
- Change formations
- After the half way line you must play 2 touch
By Sean Pearson. Sean is also the author Coaching Team Shape in the 3-3-1, Coaching Team Shape in the 4-2-3-1 and Coaching Team Shape in the 4-3-3
