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This is a high intensity finishing session in the attacking third, focusing on developing sharpness in and around the penalty area with fast and fluid attacks.
Area | Half a pitch |
Equipment | Balls, bibs, cones, 1 full size goal |
No. of Players | 15 players + 1 goalkeeper |
Session Time | 45mins |
This is a high intensity finishing session in the attacking third, focusing on developing sharpness in and around the penalty area with fast and fluid attacks.
It is aimed at getting the players thinking offensively, and when moving through the session it encourages players to react to, and anticipate, the second and third phases of the attack, where quick turnovers of possession in the final third can present goal-scoring opportunities very quickly.
This session could be done at any time of the week. We would run this in the lead up to match day.
We set up on half a pitch with a goal and a goalkeeper. We’re using 15 outfield players. Two players are defenders and the remainder are attacking players, set up as shown [1a], with midfielders, strikers and wide players lining up to attack the penalty area. The two defenders and the goalkeeper protect the goal.
The coach plays a ball to one of the defenders, who lays off for the centre forward (player 2) to receive and have a strike on goal – either with his first or second touch, as shown [1b].
In the second phase, the centre forward (player 2) now spins and receives a pass from a midfielder (player 1), making a one-touch pass to the other midfielder (player 3). Player 3 then passes to either the right back or the right winger, who combine with one another to cross the ball into the penalty area, as shown [1c]. The defenders become active as the midfielders and the centre forward (players 1, 2 and 3) drive into the penalty area to meet the cross.
In the third phase, a waiting midfielder (player 4) plays a ball to the left winger, who combines with the overlapping left back to cross into the penalty area. Attacking players 1, 2 and 3 remain active in the box and they react to the cross and try to score a goal, as shown [1d]. The ball remains active while the chance to score is still there, or if possession is maintained, and the players are encouraged to recycle the ball to wide players and repeat the cross.
Player 4 does not drive into the box but remains at the front of the queue, ready to take part in the next attack with the next centre forward and player 5. The defending pair stays in for two attacks before being switched.
In the first phase, we look for the centre forward receiving and protecting the ball with his back to goal and bringing the supporting midfielders into play.
Playing through the central midfielders is designed to drag the defending team’s wide players into the penalty box so that the second phase pass out to the right winger is utilising the space created and making the chances for a quality cross and a goal-scoring opportunity more likely.
The wide players are encouraged to vary their crosses. We also want to see various types of finishing. It is vital that players demonstrate a good touch, and accurate crossing is essential too.
Because this is a competitive, lively and realistic attacking and defending session, the goalkeeper will have differing efforts at goal to deal with and will be required to communicate efficiently with the central defenders.
We monitor the starting positions of the defenders so that they take up realistic match positions after each turn, to allow the forwards and midfielders space to attack the crosses.
Leaving defenders out is an alternative way to present the session, if finishing is the priority and the main thing that you want to focus on.
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