WORLD CLASS COACHING
Spanish Style Possession Soccer Vol 2
By Philip Cauchi
Table of Contents
PART TWO
Training Sessions
Training Sessions
Session 1
Aim: Secure possession in midfield.
Outcomes:
1. Staggered angles of support.
2. Awareness of space.
3. Stance to receive and play quickly.
4. Off-the-ball movement to create passing angles.
5. Length, depth and width in attack.
6. Quality of passes.
Total duration of session: Approximately 90 minutes.
Formation based on: 1-4-3-3.
Complexity level: Team tactics – collective.
Equipment:
Bibs: Four reds and eight yellows.
Balls: Eight.
Poles: Four.
Cones: Four reds and two yellows.
Mini goals: Eight.
Description: In this session we work towards forming passing options, support and off-the-ball movement. The players should see the relevance of the practices with how we want our behaviour on the pitch to be. In this case we want to secure possession with the aim of penetration. It is therefore of high importance that all the lines of the team collaborate together towards achieving this aim. All players within their positions should understand the role they play in our game model and what their movements should be with respect to the position of the ball while the team is in possession.
Warming Up – Passing activation.
Area: 20 yards x 15 yards.
Targeted outcomes: 1, 3, 4 and 6.
Duration: 10 minutes.
Players go through the central area prior to combine passing with any of the perimeter players which are “free”. If the perimeter players are not “free” they must look for another player to combine with. Players are encouraged to both verbally and non-verbally communicate with each other. The below are the progressions of the first part of the warm-up.
1. Move without the ball through the central area to receive and pass back with a perimeter player.
2. Pass to a perimeter player and switch places.
3. Play a wall pass with a perimeter player and switch places.
4. Dribble the ball, pass to a perimeter player, receive back and pass at an angle to the perimeter player to the side indicated by the latter prior to switching places.
Between progressions players should dynamically stretch and also work on articular mobility, especially around the pelvic area.
Main Part: Global Game 1 – Inter-sector situational play within a small sided game.
Area: 20 yards x 15 yards.
Targeted outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.
Duration: 10 minutes (2 x 4 minutes with two minutes rest in between series).
4v4 game but with both teams trying to score on any of the opposite two mini goals. We play in a small area to increase the speed of play. Players are therefore required to think quickly and accurately. The main focus of the game is on the positioning of the black team players. We want to create length through striker 9 and off-the-ball movement to create options to play forward. For the latter we require timing of movements and angles of support from the number 6, 8 and 10 and proper weight and direction of passes. The black team should always have a safe option to play back with the number 6 remaining deep. If a goalkeeper is available he should play for the yellow team, thus making the game more realistic for the black team by creating chances to score on goal. More advanced players play with the offside rule in effect.
Main Part: Analytical Situation 1 – 5v3 Rondo with a central zone.
Area: 20 yards x 15 yards.
Targeted outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.
Duration: 10 minutes (5 x 1 minute with one minute rest in between series).
The black team aims to keep possession of the ball while at the same time score a point for every pass made to a player situated inside the central area. As a progression, to score a point another player is required to receive the pass from the player inside the central area. The yellow defenders are not allowed to enter the central area. To further progress the exercise, a point only counts if the pass from inside the central area is made to a third player as in the diagram below. After passing, the player who previously occupied the central area must move out of it and a new attacker occupy this space. This develops the behaviour of the players to rotate positions during an attack.
Main Part: Global Game 2 – Play to the opposite target player.
Area: 80 yards x 60 yards.
Targeted outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Duration: 18 minutes (2 x 8 minutes with two minutes rest in between series).
Both teams play with the aim of passing the ball to the opposite target player – the goalkeeper. If this is acquired, they retain possession and aim to play to the opposite goalkeeper. We use this exercise to integrate the team collectively to secure possession with the ultimate aim to play vertically. Players play in their natural position so they develop the ability to move both with and without the ball to create passing options and to support play. The use of width through players 2 and 3 is emphasised. This is a pre-requisite in order to create space in the middle of the field and thus create vertical passing lanes. With our number 9 we should focus on having length thus creating vertical gaps in the opposition’s defence. Central defenders 4 and 5 should give us depth and options to re-cycle the attack if forward penetration is not possible. Midfielders 6, 8 and 10 should create movement in search of providing options to circulate the ball at speed.
Main Part: Analytical Situation 2 – Securing possession 6v6+6.
Area: 80 yards x 60 yards.
Targeted outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Duration: 15 minutes (2 x 6 minutes with three minutes rest in between series).
We focus on the black team to secure possession with the help of the neutral players – the goalkeepers and wingers (reds). The yellow team keep possession should they win the ball. As coaches we aim to correct the distances and angles between the players. We should ask the players the following questions: Do we have depth? Who is giving the team length? Are we using both width and depth in order to secure possession of the ball? When should we play wide and when should we aim to penetrate through the middle? How can the goalkeeper (the one behind the defenders) help us keep possession of the ball? To make these coaching points clear, during the rest periods run the practice in a slow and freeze motion so to ask the players what they think about the team’s positioning, their angles and distances from each other.
Main Part: Global Game 3 – Game 9v9
Area: 80 yards x 60 yards.
Targeted outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Duration: 15 minutes (2 x 8 minutes with three minutes rest in between series).
In this game we analyse what the players have understood and what we need to develop further. This part of the session resembles the real match with all the rules of the game in it. During the three minute break between series we should re-ask the players questions regarding their positioning, angles and distance from each other.
Conclusive Part – Cool down
Duration: 10 minutes.
Players pass and move in groups of four while keeping the shape of a rhombus. End the session with static stretching exercises focusing particularly on the quadriceps, hamstrings, adductors, calves and lower back.
Session 2
Aim: Build-up from the goalkeeper.
Outcomes:
1. Central defenders 4 and 5 to provide options.
2. Midfielder 6 to create a numerical superiority near the ball.
3. Staggered positions of the midfielders.
4. Compass movement (one drops while the other goes high) of midfielders 6 and 8.
5. Width provided by full backs 2 and 3.
6. Preventive marking.
Total duration of session: Approximately 90 minutes.
Formation based on: 1-4-3-3.
Complexity level: Team tactics – collective.
Equipment:
Bibs: Eight yellows.
Balls: At least eight to allow for a better session flow.
Cones: two sets of ten for the cool down.
Mini goals: Eight.
Description: During this session emphasis will be on creating options for the player with the ball while creating possibilities for the team to verticalize play. It is therefore of extreme importance to have options in front of the ball where the player continuously move to create passing lanes. The players closest to the ball must immediately provide support to the ball-carrier. If a player has the ball he must always have support and cover behind him, thus a safe option to play back if forward passing options are not available.
Warming Up: 3v1 to 3v1 Rondo.
Area: 16 yards x 8 yards divided into two equal zones.
Targeted outcomes: N/A.
Duration: 10 minutes.
Prior to this exercise players perform some short passes and dynamic movements in order to activate the neuro-muscular system. In this exercise there is a 3v1 situation with the ball in one zone and a 2v1 without the ball in the adjacent zone. In the ball area, players must perform a string of at least six passes prior to passing the ball to the opposite zone. A player who did not play the pass joins the other zone to make it a 3v1. The same situation with the same objectives takes place in this zone. Play for a maximum of forty second series and if the defender wins the ball, he switches places with the responsible attacker.
Easier variation: There is no defender inside the opposite zone.
Harder variation: Slightly increase each zone to measure 10 yards by 10 yards. Play 3v2 in the ball zone and 2v1 in the adjacent zone.
Main Part: Global Game 1 – GK+5v5 two zone build-up game.
Area: 30 yards x 25 yards.
Targeted outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.
Duration: 10 minutes (2 x 4 minutes with two minutes rest in between series).
Both teams line up with two central defenders and three midfielders. The team we are coaching (blacks), also have a goalkeeper in goal. In both teams, players must remain inside their assigned half of the pitch. Therefore, we have the two central defenders (4 and 5) and the defensive midfielder (6) in the low zone, and midfielders 8 and 10 in the high zone. Each team however have an assigned player who may move between zones. In the black team this is the number 6. We want to use this player to create a numerical superiority at the back. Teams may only score from inside the opponents’ half of the pitch. Ball may only be played from the goalkeeper to another player positioned inside the low zone. In the second block of work, play in a single area without zones and assess the way the players perform in relation with each other (angles, distances, off-the-ball movement and support). If the ball goes out of play restarts always take place from the goalkeeper, thus working on build-up.
Main Part: Analytical Situation 1 – 6v3 Rondo with targets at both ends.
Area: 20 yards x 15 yards.
Targeted outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.
Duration: 10 minutes (5 x 1 minute with one minute rest in between series).
Positions in this rondo refer to the system of play we use in our games. The black team which is the team we are coaching, aims to play from one target player to another. In this case the targets are the goalkeeper and the offensive midfielder (10). We work on angles and encourage our players to play deep. The ball-carrier’s team mates must work to create support. To develop mobility in our team, interchanging of positions during the run of play may be carried out. As an example, target player 10 may drop deep and 8 may take his place. The ball should then be played to player 8. This training situation helps us develop the ability to play deep while at the same time create movements and rotations in search of creating and exploiting space.
Main Part: Global Game 2 – 9v9 Match.
Area: 80 yards x 60 yards.
Targeted outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Duration: 18 minutes (2 x 8 minutes with two minutes rest in between series).
The black team plays in a 1-4-3-1 formation while the yellow team lines up in a 1-2-3-3 system. We coach the black team where the ultimate aim is to build-up play through the middle. It is important to note that now we have integrated the full backs and the striker into our system. We encourage the striker to give us length while the full backs give us width. Movement in midfield and quick circulation of the ball are at the front of our minds. We should constantly remind the players to make use of short clear cues during the practice, thus mutually coaching each other. We should resist the temptation to stop the practice very often as this will reduce the flow and intensity and also jeopardise the players’ motivation and concentration levels. Prior to the start of the practice we should explain to our players what we are looking for and review and provide short examples during the rest period.
Main Part: Analytical 2 – 3v2 in each zone to build-up play.
Area: 40 yards x 20 yards.
Targeted outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.
Duration: 18 minutes (6 x 2 minutes with one minute rest in between series).
Play starts from the goalkeeper in zone one. The three attackers (blacks) must combine between them while being pressured by two defenders (yellows). Their aim is to play the ball into zone two for their teammates to finish on goal. If the defenders win the ball, they counter on the goal in zone one. After three attacks the attackers switch with the ones resting outside of the area. Change the defenders every two minutes, at each rest. To progress, reduce the width of the area to 15 yards. The attackers now have less time and space available for them to play the ball. This requires them to anticipate play, thus be in the right position at the right time and adapt the right stance to receive and play quickly. This progression aims to develop technical speed, where accurate first touch, one touch play and passes are required. Again the players are grouped with reference to their position in the system of play utilised by the team.
Main Part: Global Game 3 – 9v9 Match.
Area: 80 yards x 60 yards.
Targeted outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Duration: 18 minutes (2 x 8 minutes with two minutes rest in between series).
Return to the match and emphasize on the main points (outcomes) of the session. Review these points with the players and stress them out during the run of play. We might need to remind these outcomes to individual players during the session, without stopping the flow of the session and especially during the rest period.
Conclusive Part – Cool down
Duration: 10 minutes.
Players perform light exercises by dribbling the ball inside a marked area without hitting each other or any of the cones (see below image). End the session with static stretching exercises focusing on the quadriceps, hamstrings, adductors, calves and lower back.
