The game model

The session is an example of our individualised program. It illustrates how we bring to life a player’s individual development plan and highlights how we use this to design specific practices for the individual. It’s focused on one player being successful in wide areas and fitting into our game model.

We call this outplay and impact two zones. 

Down the wing, we are looking at 1v1 duels and combination play; as we enter the final third, we work on movement, before progressing to link up play; heading into the box, we are entering the assist zone; in front of goal is the golden zone.

Through these zones, we look to explore, refine and execute the skills and techniques shown in the table.

Each session we run is then focused on elements of this table.

In this session, we are focusing on the 1v1 and combos, moving into the assist zone. From here we can link into one of our other attacking zones (finishing zone). 

The foci of this session are highlighted in the table on the previous page.

This is a 40-minute session and purely with one player in this area we have no goalkeepers and maximum of five players in a group. It is important that even in small sessions it is specific and relevant to the geographical area of the pitch.

These sessions are periodised around the team sessions: at least two out of the five training sessions a week are tailored in this way for the players. We would also build in learning for the other players. However, the 40 minutes would be tailored to one individual. This would be periodised for every player over a 12-week meso cycle.  

An individual coach would then be assigned to the player in a team session so when these scenarios occurred in a game or phase of play they could revisit some of the individual learning. The individual session is built up to practise in the impact zones. The team would then do a session in the attacking third of the pitch and the player would understand their role in the attacking phase.