Attacking Centrally | Opposed / Tech / SSG (01-S2)

Phase 3: Finishing the Attack

Age Group 11+

Duration 90 minutes

Players 12+

This 3 Part - 90 minute session on Attacking Centrally, combines an opposed skill practice with a technical drill and finally a creative Small Sided Game, with 10 players. The focus is on developing attacks in central areas for 11+, with coaches responsible for setting constraints and freedoms relevant for their age group and level of player; player numbers can be adjusted.

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Attacking Centrally | Skill (01-P2)

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01 P2

Defending teams will attempt to cover these players and so attacking team must work angles and spaces to combine in..

 

Improve Finishing | Opposed (09-P3)

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09p3

This animated football practice helps to develop 1 v 1 attacking and defending, with an emphasis on attacking playe..

 

Attacking Centrally | Skill (01-P1)

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01 P1T

Practice 1 of theme 1 Attacking Centrally is played in a 20 by 30 yard area depending on player age group. In a..

 
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Free Soccer Drills

SKILL

01

Attacking Centrally | Skill Practice (01-P2)

Organisation / Set Up
 
Defending teams will attempt to cover these players and so attacking team must work angles and spaces to combine in central area. Attacking team must combine with at least 1 target player during attack. With this 4 v 4 + GKs, target players will come into play and be replaced by existing possession player during build. 1 Floater in central area and 2 end zone players who team can combine with to finish.
 

01 P2a

 
Key Coaching Points
Defending teams will attempt to cover these players and so attacking team must work angles and spaces to combine in central area.
 

01 P2b

 
Progressions & Constraints | 1
Movement to create and use space | Go & Show. 1-2 touch combinations.
 

01 P2c

 
Progressions & Constraints 2
Rotational Movement for players in and out of zones.
 

01 P2d

 
Progressions & Constraints 3
Rotation with end floaters as well as zone floaters. 2 Goals if you can finish 1 touch off end players.
 
Consider..
  • Touches | All in central areas, Floaters either side and central areas on 2 touch
  • Zones | 1 main playing zone, 4 x 5 x 5 yard target zones
  • Pitch size | 40 x 40 yard area
 
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Free Soccer Drills

OPPOSED

09

Improve Finishing | Opposed Practice (09-P3)

Organisation / Set Up
This practice helps to develop 1 v 1 attacking and defending, with an emphasis on attacking player's movement to beat defenders and to lose markers to attack crosses. Work both ways with one player passing to a support player who will set for attacking player to drive at the defender to finish against the GK. If defenders win possession, they can clear the ball or score in mini goals if coach adds these.
 

09 P3 1

 

09 P3 2

 

09 P3 3

 
Key Coaching Points
  • Tactical | Recognise when and how to take on defender effectively
  • Technical | Dribbling ability to take player on, plus finishing technique
  • Psychological | Confidence to beat players repeatedly
 
Progressions & Constraints
  • Add mini goals for defenders to score in on regaining possession.
  • Add time constraint as a competition between 2 attacking groups, who can score first or how many goals can the 2 or 3 players score in 2 minutes?
 
Key Coaching Questions
  • How are you able to take on players successfully?
  • What is each defender's strategy against different defenders?
 
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Free Soccer Drills

SKILL

01

Attacking Centrally | Skill Practice (01-P1)

Organisation / Set Up
Between a 20 and 30 yard area depending on age group coached,  we play a 3 v 3 plus targets changing to a 4 v 4 with a goal and GK at each end. Players must combine with a central target player to score with quick combination. Area has two central 5 yard zones where target players must play 1 or 2 touch combinations with the attacking team.
 

01 Attacking Centrally 1

 
Key Coaching Points
Try to allow free play and recognise opportunities for possession team to combine quickly with forward passes. If opposition start to protect target players, may need to enforce passing conditions (e.g. 10 passes a goal) to force pressure. Be creative and think about other progressions that could be implemented using STEP model, or ask players to create their own.
 

01 Attacking Centrally 2

 
Progressions & Constraints | 1
Progress the practice by allowing rotation between central target players, with a single player in each box for each team.
 

01 Attacking Centrally 3

 
Progressions & Constraints 2
Central players can drive out of the central square to initiate attacks quicker.