Organisation for small sided game
9 v 9
No corners
- Let them play for a bit to get the shape right
- Now put your conditions in. The opposition are allowed 5 passes to score
or get into the other half, then the ball must be played into the keepers
hands. Back to front in 6 passes maximum. We need to get the ball to our
keeper regularly.
- Structure the session.
Keepers responsibilities. 1st look forward etc.
- Structure your starts to enable them to work out from the back.
Key Points
- Spread out- long and wide. Open your body out
- Attitude. Can it go forward, midfield, square
or can I run with it.
- Quality of pass. Behind, to feet, to run onto.
Pace and accuracy with correct decision
- Support play.
Don't go too early.
Hold your ground as his head goes down make your runs.
If the strikers split, is there a hole for the advanced midfield player.
If they are narrow can we get around their sides.
Support behind, around and in front of the ball.
If you are playing against a team and the midfield is tight you cannot
have a high defensive line. It may have to go in, to come back out, to
go forward again. come in, to go out and switch play.
- Cover of all players.
11 v 11
| Starting Position 1
Start with the goalkeeper practicing his long kicks.
Ask the forward how he likes to receive the ball-
- to feet
- to run onto
- to chest
- to the head to flick on.
Tell the keeper to try to put it where he has asked.
Can the keeper now aim the ball between the centre circle and touch line.
Players should look for flick on's and readjust to the flight of the ball
accordingly. You should coach compactness, cover and movement of players
for the second ball. |
Starting position 1
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Starting position 2
The wide midfield player beats the defender and puts in a
cross towards the keeper.
- Goalkeeper if you win it look for where the numbers are.
- The full back on the opposite side to the cross, should not worry so
much about width. He should try to get forward as quick as possible.
- When the Keeper has it and nothing is on forward.
Don't force it and give the ball away. Spread out and make the team as big
as possible. Side to side and end to end.
- Full backs push up beyond the ball if possible.
If you stand on the edge of the area you may invite a player onto you. Look
to move the ball quickly across the "dish". The closer we get
to the halfway line the more likely you are to tuck in.
- Centre backs, split and offer for the ball. Don't
get too close to the keeper. In possession can you hit long diagonals to
the wide midfield players or forwards. Remember options - 1st look forwards
etc. Look to centre backs and holding midfielder rotating. If they get in
trouble make sure they have options behind, square and or forward.
- One central midfield player get into the hole in
front of the defenders. Look at angle of approach. If you are marked can
you interchange with another midfield player. In possession can you draw
opponents up and in to give space in behind or act as a pivot to switch
play and keep possession..
- Wide midfield players don't be too worried about hugging the line, you
can come off it when the keeper has the ball. The two full backs can now
push up into that wide position. Start to threaten behind the forwards back.
- Can the advanced midfield player look to play off
his makers shoulder in the space between the midfield and the attackers.
Rotate positions in midfield and roles if necessary.
- Wide forwards, wide midfield men can you push high
and wide
- Centre forwards can you work both ways. Can you
act as a link and come forward or can you get behind them.
-
The goalkeeper, get into line
and up the line to support the play.
We must get out of the defending third and the middle
third without them having a sniff. Pass quickly and firmly and don't baby
it. We don't want a flat line in midfield.
Starting position 3
From a central positon a midfield
player shoots into the goalkeepers hands.
Play to the full back and look at his observations and range of passing.
If the centre back has the ball and is running centrally, full backs
shouldn't go to far because the ball is not likely to go to them. They
should tuck in instead.
If the team is spread all over the place look for accuracy with wide
midfield players threatening in behind. |
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If the centre back has the ball.
Central defender after passing to the full back, can you follow through
and get in advance of him. Give a receiving angle.
We are trying to get out with no pressure on the ball.
Look at the midfield movements. |
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Can you give it to the wide midfielder. If he gives opposite movement,
can you work a move here. E.g. Spin off.
Play the ball to his feet, he lays it softly back to the full back and
then spins into the space behind where the ball is now played.
Don't be afraid to go round them. See below for another idea. |
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Here are a few ideas for playing
out of defence
The move
-
X6 gives X3 a suppoting angle.
- X3 passes to X6 and sprints into the space behind
X11
- X11 comes short.
- X6 passes hard to X11 who dummies.
- Alternative is passing to X4 ans X11 giving a deeper
angle.
Basically its about the wide players. 11 comes in off
the line, 4 and 6 come to support and 3 goes down the line. Make them aware
of man-marking. It is important to be able to create movement to get players
in. On top it helps them develop extra understanding. 3 pops the ball back to
the centre back, wide player starts to drift into the hole. If he can turn and
run with it then we want him to.
The move
-
- X4 and X10 give opposite movement and then cross.
- When X10 and X4 cross, X8 makes his run.
- X5 passes to X10.
- X10 passes to X8 who has come back to receive the
ball to feet.
4 is the anchor man, this is a little move to try to
get 10 and 4, 8 and 4 and 9 used to playing together to produce a shape that
gives us men up front, men in midfield and if necessary a little bit of movement
to get the ball. In the real world 4 might be marked, we want movement to get
10 free on the ball and at the same time for 8 to realise that he is going to
release him. Movement is a little changeover between 4 and 10, when 8 sees that,
he gets on his bike, 9 pulls away. 8's up there now you can play in the attacking
third.
The move
-
-
- X7 and X11 move inside when X8 receives the ball.
- X10 sprints forward and X9 comes short.
- X8 passes to X4 who has given him an angle.
- X11 now gives opposite movement and sprints wide.
- X4 plays to any of the front three.
Now coach responsibilities of the defenders, midfielders and forwards in
the mid-third.
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Centre backs supporting behind and
defensive duties.
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Full backs look to overlap in midfield
wide areas.
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Holding midfielder, you must support
behind the ball, in the front hole, be used as a pivot and look to pass
behind or play through them
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Advanced midfield should look to
rotate with centre forward and wide forwards.
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Wide forwards, wing backs. Be high
and wide unless you are rotating with the centre forward or advanced midfielder.
Look to link play inside with centre forward or advanced midfield player.
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Centre forward look to threaten
behind and between defenders. Show short for runners behind. Run wide
as required and look to secure the ball and supply the best passes.
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Goalkeeper. Adjust depth to support
the ball. Look to sweep up and protect the space behind the defenders.
If the ball is in the opponents half and your team is in possession can
you push up to the edge of the area.
Here are a few ideas for playing through midfield.
The move
- The full back passes the ball into the wide midfielder
who has given opposite movement away from the full back and come back to receive
the ball to feet.
- The central midfielder right is man marked, so as the ball is travelling
the CML gives him the call to interchange positions. They change positions
giving the WM an option to pass square.
- The WM drives inside. This is the trigger for the full back to overlap at
pace down the wing into and beyond the space the WM has come out of.
- The WM passes to the CML safe or favoured foot.
- The front forward gives opposite movement and comes short to support CML.
- The CML will now have options. To play to the full back , the front forward
or run at the defence himself.
- TheFR will now have options. Play it wide to the full back, play it back
to the CML or turn and attack the defence.
- Now you have to coach the responsibilities of the players attacking the
box.
The move
- The wide midfielder (X7) receives the ball, passes
into the second centre forward (X9) and follows his pass. This can be disguised
by doing a 'Sid' move (the first forward dummies the ball for the second forward).
- X9 plays the ball back into X7's path so he can play it first time.
- The wide midfielder (X4) holds his run until X9 passes back to X7 giving
him the trigger to break forward.
- X7 passes into or beind where X9 has come out of for X4 to run onto.
The move
- The centre midfield player X4 receives the ball on
the half turn from the centre of defence.
- X4 plays the way he is facing first time to X8.
- X8 plays first time diagonally to X7 the wide midfield
player.
- As the ball travels to X7 the full back X2 starts
his overlapping run at pace.
- X7 lays the ball back to X4 who gives a supporting
angle and disatnce to play first time down the line to X2, to play in the
centre forwards, attack the defence or switch play. Here he plays the full
back in.
- Work now on the forwards responsibilities.
The move
- The wide man X11 creates space by opposite movement drawing the full back
towards him. The space is created behind X11 where he has come out of. Instead
of spinning in behind he holds his position.
- The full back X3 passes to X11 favoured foot.
- X11 passes back to X3 not hard to his favoured foot.
- The central right midfielder runs into the space X11 has come out of, the
channel.
- X3 plays the ball down the channel to X8
- Work on forwards responsibilities.
The move
- One touch play the way your facing
- The full back X2 passes to X4 who has created space
and come towards X2 at an angle.
- X4 either turns the ball aorund the corner or does
a reverse pass depending on which foot he receives the ball. He passes to
X9.
- The centre forward X9 has created space and come short
for the ball.
- X9 passes to the right sided midfield man X8's favoured
foot.
- As the ball is travelling X7 or X2 make a run down
the channel or into the space X9 has come out of. Here X7 could go into the
X9 space and X2 could go down the channel.
- X8 plays X7 or X2 in.
- Now work on forwards responsibilities.
4-4-2
The Move
The centre midfield (right) passes square to the wide midfielder
(right), he plays it into the nearest forward who play it back to the centre
midfield (right). He passes the ball through the channel for the forward (left)
to run onto and shoot. Players then run into the box to meet the cross.
![[Image]](pict444.jpg) |
Midfielders and First Forward
Always pass to a players safe foot. Pass crisp to his best foot or
the foot furthest away from the challenging player his safe side. Look
for quality of pass. Pass how you would like to receive it. Wide midfield
player should give opposite movement to create space before calling
and coming short, lay the ball into the forward so he can play it first
time.
The forward should give opposite movement to create space before calling
and coming short, lay the ball into the centre midfielder so he can
play it first time. The forward should give a loud call and come out
at an angle to play the ball easily. Draw that defender out ! |
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The Left Forward
Hold your run don't go offside. Run along the line if necessary. Be
positive get a strike in if you can, hold the ball up and look to cross
if your pushed wide.
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The responsibilities of the defenders, midfielders and forwards
in the attacking-third.
- Centre backs support behind the ball. Be prepared
for when the attack breaks down
- Holding midfield player. Look to act as a pivot
for switching play, passing through and behind the defense. Look for the
chance of a long shot. Defensive duties include locking in and being ready
for when the attack breaks down.
- Full backs support behind, and advance of the
ball. Look for overlaps and crossing opportunities. Defensive duties include
locking in and being ready for when the attack breaks down.
- Advanced midfield player. Look for passing and
dribbling through opportunities. Support the centre forwards. Look for
running behind, shooting and turning opportunities. Be in position to
attack crosses.
- Wide forwards. On the ball side work as winger.
When the ball is central or on the opposite side work as the second forward.
Rotate with the centre forward and advanced midfield players. Be positive
when finishing from shots or crosses.
- Centre forward. Show to feet, get between defenders
and look for good turning/spinning opportunities.
- Goalkeeper. Adjust depth to support the ball.
Look to sweep up and protect the space behind the defenders. If the ball
is in the opponents half and your team is in possession can you push up
to the edge of the area.
Attacking Responsibilities
- Wide midfielder on opposite side to the ball. Should attack
the back post, but remember the timing of your run.You must be the last
attacker in the box, we don't want all the players in a line so the ball
misses everyone. Alternately watch the centre forward if pulls away to
the back post can you attack the space he has come out of .
- Centre midfielder nearest the ball. Hold the edge of the area
and look for the loose ball.
- Centre midfield left penalty spot but disguise your run with
diagonal movements.Remember the easiest run to defend is a straight run.
Alternately attack the near post area.
- Furthest forward from the ball. Hit the near post but disguise
your run with diagonal movements. Alternately pull off to the back post
to give the defenders a decision to make whehter to track you or mark
space.
- Nearest forward to the ball. Can you support the ball, get in
front of the first defender or aim for the penalty spot to draw the defender
off the near post.
- You should have at least one player back post, centre spot, near post
and locking in. Who does which job and how is your responsibility.
Coaching Points
Look for supporting depth and angles.
We must be able to get out of the defending third and the middle third without
them getting a sniff. Get the ball out to the full backs early. If there is
nothing on forward, play square and go in the other way. Pass quickly and
firmly, don't baby it. Look for where the numbers are can we play the long
diagonal ball to the opposite wide forward. We don't want a flat line in midfield.
Central defender if you play into midfield don't be afraid to give an angle
to receive it back. Forwards look to run across the line and duck in behind.
Developing
attacks from the def third.
My Favourite Small Sided Games |
