By Philip Connolly
Objective:
The objective of the following training session is to work on aspects of retaining purposeful possession in order to build combinations to play forward with transition actions in winning and losing possession of the ball.
Practice 1:
Warm-up activity to introduce some of combination patterns that we would encourage the players to implement in game situations.
Player A passes to Player B where Player A makes an overlapping run around Player C, meanwhile Player B makes a pass to Player C who then plays the ballot Player A who completes the combination play by playing into Player D.
Coaching Points:
• Quality and Accuracy of the Passes
• Ball Control
• Speed of Play
• Body Shape to receive
• Timing of the overlapping run
• Progress to 2 Touch
• Progress to 1 Touch
Practice 2:
Play starts with the Black team in possession of the ball. The objective is to combine in order to play the ball down to their target practice.
The area is split in two half’s and the Yellow defenders start off by screening in their half to prevent the pass into the target players. If the Black team achieve their objective the target player plays the ball to the Yellow team who then try to work the ball to their target player, the same goes if they win the ball when screening.
Progress the practice to allow the team not in possession of the ball to press the team in possession in their half in order to replicate winning the ball back high up the pitch, again if they win the ball they ball they play into their target player.
Progress further to allow the team who played the ball into their target player to retain possession in that half and try to work the ball back down to the opposite target player (look for as many continuous achievement of the objective as possible – create a competitive environment.)
Coaching Points:
• Speed of play
• Creation of passing lanes
• Movement of the target players – don’t be static
• Reactions to winning and losing the ball when pressing the opposition
Practice 3:
6 v 3 game. The play starts with the coach playing the ball into the Black team who are positioned around the area to receive the ball. The Yellow defenders start of the area and can only enter when the ball is played in by the coach.
The objective for the Black team is to make 5 passes as quickly as possible (if this is achieved see how many they can make – create a competitive environment), the Yellow team are trying to prevent these 5 passes is being made and if they do this they look to make a ‘safety’ pass out to the coach who will be moving around the area.
Roles will be rotated to allow both teams to ‘Attack’ and ‘Defend’.
Coaching Points:
• Speed of play – quality and accuracy of quick combination play
• Movement of players to combine and retain possession
• Communication between players to help achieve objective
• Pressing speed and shape of the defenders
• Awareness when the ball is won to spot the coach to make the safety pass (play with head up)
Practice 4:
6 v 6 (including GKs) game with the pitch split into Defensive, Midfield and Attacking zones. The Black team starting with possession of the ball. Both teams have the GK + 3 defenders in the defensive zone, 1 midfielder in the midfield zone and 1 forward in the attacking zone.
The objective is to play through the thirds to score. The player who makes the pass to the midfield player can go and join his team mate in this zone to create a 2 v 1 situation. When the ball is played into the player in the attacking zone both players from the midfield zone can go and join him to play 3 v 3 in this zone, when this happens the 2 defenders push up into the midfield zone (encouraging the defenders to play with a high line when attacking – the GK plays as a sweeper keeper in case of quick counter attack).
Progress to free play between the zones but encourage players to play with structure in terms of defence-midfield-attack.
Coaching Points:
• Speed of play forward and score – 3 v 1 in defensive 3rd and 3 v 3 in attacking 3rd
• Movement of the midfield player to receive the ball
• Hold up play of the midfield and forward player’s so his teammates have time to join them
• Combinations within the midfield zone when 2 v 1 in order play forward with speed
By Philip Connolly
