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Combination play in and around the penalty box
This session is about one-touch and two-touch combination plays, encouraging creativity in the penalty box and positivity to play forward or take a shot.
| Area | Full pitch |
| Equipment | Full size goals |
| No. of Players | 16 (minimum) |
| Session Time |
80mins plus rest or at coach’s discretion; 4v4 game: 20mins, Skill practice: 30mins, Three-team game: 30min |
This session is about one-touch and two-touch combination plays, encouraging creativity in the penalty box and positivity to play forward or take a shot. Combination play in and around the goal is a way in which teams can create goalscoring opportunities for their team. Combination play will typically take place either on the counter-attack or when the opposition team is in a low block. This session can be run in conjunction with an academy curriculum or in a first-team session, and is particularly suitable if the team are struggling to create chances.
4v4 game
We set up in a space as shown, with four players on each team [1]. We are looking for one- and two-touch combination plays, encouraging movements to create space, rotations, pass detail, and scanning shoulders. We run this for 20 minutes including rest breaks.
1
2. Red player shoots
3. Yellow team combine one- and two-touch passes
4. Yellow player shoots
SKILL PRACTICE
We set up on half a pitch as shown. We are looking to see if we can receive and face the goal, encouraging creativity and positivity in the penalty box, and moving to create space, in behind or in front of players [2]. We run this for 30 minutes including rest breaks.
2
2. Yellow (bounce) player puts in cross
3. Red players defend goal
THREE-TEAM GAME
We set up on half a pitch as shown, in three teams. Two teams are playing and the other team are bounce players [3]. The bounce players are on one touch. Playing to an outside player and scoring gives two goals. Scoring in normal play is one goal. The first team to two goals wins. We run this for 30 minutes including rest breaks.
You can progress after this into two teams, running 11v11 and working with the attackers against active defenders.
3
2. Blue player plays ball to yellow (bounce) player
3. Yellow player returns pass for blue player to return on to
4. Blue player receives and makes immediate cross into team-mate in middle
5. Blue player shoot
What are the key things to look out for?
We are looking for: one- and two-touch combination plays, receiving to face the goal, creativity in the penalty box, positivity to play forward or shoot, movements to create space in behind or in front of players.
What are the typical mistakes players might make and how do I avoid them?
Players may get disheartened if and when they make mistakes. Encourage them to keep going and resetting; this will give them confidence when they go into matches.
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