By Steven Smith
This session is designed to emphasize winger play to encourage outside to inside attacking patterns. The build-up occurs with smaller sides of play (numbers) and increases to include large sided play. Coaching should encourage players to play to targets on the inside of the field but then find wingers. Each activity can have a progression that gives greater points for goals scored or passes connected to outside player.
Activity 1: Heads Up Warm Up
Warm-up
Setup:
A large grid is set up with multiple obstacles inside the grid. Half of the players are inside the grid with a ball and half are outside of the grid without a ball. Players inside of grid each with a ball must dribble across the grid to any side of grid and hand off the ball to another player stationed at the outside of the grid.
Execution:
Players move through the grid with dribbling while using Coerver moves and hand off the ball to player waiting outside of the grid. That player then enters the grid and does the same. Players must avoid all obstacles as they move through the grid to the other sides of the grid. Coach blows whistle every two minutes and alternating stretches and range of motion activities ensue for one minute. Restart.
Variations:
Start with the ball in hands and play handball.
Move to foot skills with alternating stretches.
Activity 2: 5 vs. 5 Winger Play after Target
Main phase
Setup:
30 by 35 yard grids set up with two keepers and full-size goals.
Execution:
Emphasis is on playing balls into the target forward (number 9) before any shot can take place. Also, emphasis on winger play by dictating that the ball must make it out to the winger (7 and 11 or OB) prior to any shot taking place. Teams should be preset to emphasize functional tactical play in the proper third of the field with positional play. Flat back four and a holding midfield can be held for the duration as well.
Variations:
Start play with ball to winger
Start play with ball to OB only
Start play with first ball to be held by number 9
Activity 3: 7 v 7 plus 7 wingers
Main phase
Setup:
Set up a 30 x 35-yard grid as shown. Place 7 black vs. 7 yellow inside grid. Seven red players each possess a ball on the outside of the grid ready to cross.
Execution:
The black and yellow teams compete to see who can score the most out of 7 services from the red team on the outside. The services should alternate so that the black team tries to score on their end without opposition and the yellow team scores on their end without opposition. Each red server must serve one ball to each team and then play rotates.
Upon completion of one full cycle where every group gets a chance to score, now the teams will compete with opposition. The yellow team tries to stop the black team from scoring during their seven services from red and vice versa.
Variations:
Play can go from end to end with yellow defending the first ball and black defending the second ball.
Do this with speed and the transition will matter to both team's success.
Activity 4: Full sided play
Main phase
Setup:
Groups of 11 vs. 11
Execution:
Full field. Coaches randomly end play with whistle and start a new ball where the coach desires to work on functional play.
Variations:
Focus on restarts as well as full sided play. Add at least 10 restarts with emphasis on restarts sent in from the winger positions. Give extra points for finishes on first strikes out of the air.
By Steven Smith Head Coach at Hope College, Holland, MI
