Key Coaching Points
• Passing and support play in central zone, looking for opportunity to pass forward.
• Timing of runs from midfielder to support from behind, to the side and in advance of the lone striker.
• Angles and distances of support behind and moving ahead of the receiver of ball.
• Striker securing possession and holding-up play giving time for midfielders to make ground to support.
• Striker looking for opportunity to turn defenders, to threaten goal or play through pass to running midfielder player.
• Passing and support play in central zone, looking for opportunity to pass forward.
• Timing of runs from midfielder to support from behind, to the side and in advance of the lone striker.
• Angles and distances of support behind and moving ahead of the receiver of ball.
• Striker securing possession and holding-up play giving time for midfielders to make ground to support.
• Striker looking for opportunity to turn defenders, to threaten goal or play through pass to running midfielder player.
Practice organisation
• Area 60x40yds, divided into thirds with an offside line drawn 15yds from each end line of practice area and goals at
each end, as illustrated.
• 16 players (including 2 goalkeepers) arranged 8v8, 1 ball.
• Teams are arranged 4v4 in centre zone, 2v1 (in favour of defenders who are pushed-up to offside line) in end zones.
• Practice starts with: ball served into central zone by coach and receiving team initiates attack by playing into lone striker.
• Two attacking midfielders can be released into end zone to create 3v2 and support front player, working to
create goal-scoring opportunity.
• If defenders gain possession: they transfer ball into central zone, for their team mates to initiate attack via their lone striker.
• Attackers supporting midfielders are able to recover into central zone to challenge.
• Practice is reset when ball goes dead.
Detail
• Challenge: try to set-up attacks off 3rd man movement.
• If recovering team regains possession it can initiate its own counter-attack.
• Striker moving defender towards ball to create space behind for runners.
• Simple progressions for this practice are:
- Defenders send one player back from central zone to challenge 2 breaking players (and create a 3v3 in defensive half).
- Goalkeeper gathering ball and quickly identifying opportunity to throw into central zone where numbers are in team’s favour, to maintain momentum
of game (outfield players to remain aware of restrictions).
• Area 60x40yds, divided into thirds with an offside line drawn 15yds from each end line of practice area and goals at
each end, as illustrated.
• 16 players (including 2 goalkeepers) arranged 8v8, 1 ball.
• Teams are arranged 4v4 in centre zone, 2v1 (in favour of defenders who are pushed-up to offside line) in end zones.
• Practice starts with: ball served into central zone by coach and receiving team initiates attack by playing into lone striker.
• Two attacking midfielders can be released into end zone to create 3v2 and support front player, working to
create goal-scoring opportunity.
• If defenders gain possession: they transfer ball into central zone, for their team mates to initiate attack via their lone striker.
• Attackers supporting midfielders are able to recover into central zone to challenge.
• Practice is reset when ball goes dead.
Detail
• Challenge: try to set-up attacks off 3rd man movement.
• If recovering team regains possession it can initiate its own counter-attack.
• Striker moving defender towards ball to create space behind for runners.
• Simple progressions for this practice are:
- Defenders send one player back from central zone to challenge 2 breaking players (and create a 3v3 in defensive half).
- Goalkeeper gathering ball and quickly identifying opportunity to throw into central zone where numbers are in team’s favour, to maintain momentum
of game (outfield players to remain aware of restrictions).