The session is broken down into 3 parts

• 3v2 to goal (35 minutes)
• Set pieces (15 minutes)
• 7v7 (30 minutes)

I.  3v2 To Goal (6:20-6:40)

Set Up

• The same as the the 3v1 game that we have been doing but now there are 2 defenders and the player at the top now goes to goal and is live to make it 3v2.
• We will make it competitive by dividing the players into 4 or 5 teams
• Key points are having counter runs and fakes when receiving and passing the ball
• Players should be looking for the killer pass or killer touch
• Each turn is done in 8 seconds or less

II.  3v2 With Kneeling Targets (6:40-6:55)

• Field size is approximately 36 x 44 yards although I often make the width more narrow with my team. Two target players are always on the field. 
• The one that is NOT in attack is always kneeling and ready to pop up if his team wins the ball or brings the ball onto the field, while the other target takes a knee.  (We will not have this player take a knee but instead be up and moving into an open position for when her team wins the ball.)
• Teams are situated behind opposite goals and are broken into pairs. A goalkeeper is in each goal. The two players of the pair position themselves on opposite posts. 
• One has a ball and must play to target first and then both players enter the field to attack the two players of the other team (their target is kneeling). 
• The 18 yard box is the half field mark. If your team scores a goal then your pair defends a pair from the other team that is just coming onto the field. 
• If the ball goes out of bounds in your teams half, then you are off and another pair from your team attacks.

III. Set Piece Competition (6:55-7:10)

• Divide them into two teams
• Each team gets 4 corners from each side and 8 free kicks from outside the box (16 total) Eric will work with the defending team on how to mark.  I'll work with the attacking teams.
• With the free kicks from outside the box I will go over the technique of the players all getting together for 7 seconds to decide what they are going to do

IV. Eric's 7v0 to 7v5 Game (7:10-7:20)

• Focus is on movement after you pass the ball and counter runs off the ball
• Counter runs are one player checking back and another player going through
• As we build numbers I'd also like to focus on the person on the ball and how many touches they take and how they time their passes
• If we have to eliminate something due to time constraints this will be what we take out

V. 7v7 (7v5) Across End Line Game (7:20-7:30)

• We will modify for whatever numbers we have
• This game will be played to goal.  When a team gets across the end line they are free to go to goal.  The end lines will be set up 10-15 yards from the goals.
• Focus is on constantly having a killer run while we keep possession.  I don't want 7 players trying to keep possession of the ball.  Someone always needs to be running through.
• I would like to put them into a formation so they can play out of that.  For our defenders on offense it will be a 4-2-1 for the mids and attackers it will be a 4-1-2

VI. Scrimmage (7:30-7:40)

• Just take out the end lines and play to goal

VII. Evan Training 

II. Heading Work

III. Shooting Technique

IV. Eric Shooting Game

V. 3v2 With Kneeling Targets

• Field size is approximately 36 x 44 yards although I often make the width more narrow with my team. Two target players are always on the field. 
• The one that is NOT in attack is always kneeling and ready to pop up if his team wins the ball or brings the ball onto the field, while the other target takes a knee. 
• Teams are situated behind opposite goals and are broken into pairs. A goalkeeper is in each goal. The two players of the pair position themselves on opposite posts. 
• One has a ball and must play to target first and then both players enter the field to attack the two players of the other team (their target is kneeling). 
• The 18 yard box is the half field mark. If your team scores a goal then your pair defends a pair from the other team that is just coming onto the field. 
• If the ball goes out of bounds in your teams half, then you are off and another pair from your team attacks.

II. Combine Wall Pass and Fake Pass

III. 3v3 To End Zones

IV. 6v6 To End Zones

V. 6v6 With Channels to Goals

While Evan is leading this I am going to begin our individual player evaluations with some of the girls.

II. Technical Passing and Receiving

III.  7v7 Scrimmage

I want to do a whole/part/whole training today and really focus on ball movement and reading the cues where the defenders are.  We will play this scrimmage for 10 minutes.  One team will line up in a 4-3 with our back four and 3 players who will play as a 3 front with a left/center/right forward and no midfield.  The other team will line up in a 4-1-2.

IV. Back 4 With A CM Versus 3 Fwds To 2 Goals

Set Up 

• Field is 25x15 yds with two pugg goals for the attacking team to score in
• 4 Defenders Plus a center mid on the Blue team
• 3 reds that are the opposing team

Procedure

• One of the back four begins with the ball and they attempt to move the ball so they can score on either of the two pugg goals
• The red team earns points by winning the ball and playing the coach or a target player outside of the grid

Key Points

• Keep your head up
• Keep moving off the ball
• Memorize where the openings will be based off of the defenders positioning

Four our defenders I wanted to show them where the openings will be based off of where the red players move to defend them.  There will always be a gap to exploit in the defense since we are numbers up.  We need to recognize when to dribble, when to be calm on the ball and hold it to draw defenders in, and when to move the ball quickly.

IVa.  3 Mids Plus 2 Forwards versus 3 Defenders To 2 Goals

Set Up 

• Field is 25x15 yds with two pugg goals for the attacking team to score in
• 3 Mids Plus a 2 Forwards on the Blue team
• 3 reds that are the opposing team

The idea with this is the same as above but designed to work with our forwards and mids.  Again we want to work on our movement as a team and recognizing where the openings will be based on where the defenders move.  I really wanted to focus on the forwards movement and timing.

V. 7v7 Scrimmage  

Optional Functional Training

Mark and I combined the U13's and U14's training space today so we each had a 1/4 field for 100 minutes and then we would use the remaining 60 minutes to work on functional training with certain positions.  This is our first night trying this, if it goes well we will do this on the weeks that we have back to back training sessions.

I am really excited about trying this because we will be able to focus in on certain aspects that we do not get to spend enough time with during our team trainings.

I. Receiving Across Your Body

Set Up

• 3 players to a grid, one ball for the group
• 10x24 yard grid set up as shown below, with a worker (B) in the middle and two wide players (A and C) on the sides
• Ball starts with one of the wide players

Procedure

• Wide players A and C start directly across from each other, B starts at the middle disk on the opposite side of the grid
• A dribbles to the opposite short side disk, B runs the opposite direction and adjusts their body for a support pass
• A turns back, plays a ball to B, who then passes to C - that completes the first sequence
• Now C dribbles toward the disk they started from, B makes a similar run to offer angled support, receives a pass from C and plays the ball to A - that completes sequence #2
• Repeat

Make It Competitive

• Challenge the players to do everything at pace and with quality
• Which group can do it better?

Coaching Points

• A and C need to grasp the direction that they are attacking each sequence and play the ball to B's lead foot (in front of B in the direction that B wants to go, rather than behind B)
• B should play two touch for speed, receive the ball across their body with the inside of their far foot (relative to the passer) and play with their other foot
• A and C should be creative with their turns
• Crisp passes on the ground
• Verbal communication - "Support!" call from B, "Swing It!" call from far side wide player
• Visual communication from B, hand out pointing to where they want the ball played

II. 4v2 Keep Away Work on Getting Out of Trouble

• First grid is 20x20 yds and players can move anywhere (diamond and set up)
• Second Grid is 40x20 and players must play in a flat four

III. 6v6 Get It Wide Keep Away To Straight Diagonal (4-2 Set Up for Each Team)

Coaching Points

• In general, there is more open space on the flanks
• Players can get the ball in the channel in one of three ways - 1) dribble, 2) pass to a teammate waiting in a channel, or 3) pass to space in a channel for a teammate to run onto
• Don't force the play to one channel, if things are crowded, switch fields (change the point of attack) and look to get wide in the opposite channel

Variations

1. Players may only get the ball into a channel by passing
2. Players may only get the ball into a channel by dribbling
3. 3-touch or less

IV. 6v6 Scrimmage

I. Evan Fitness

II. Set Piece Competition

Set Up

• Each team will get the same amount of repetitions on the various set pieces from different angles
• Corner Kicks Best of 7 from each side
• Free Kicks Best of 7 from each side

III. Transition Game

Most goals that will be scored this weekend will either be scored on set pieces or on transitions so we will play one of my favorite games and we will start it from a variety of ways while playing a best of 7 series.

Set Up

• One Red team and One Blue team
• One team at each goal with one line on each post.  Balls with one line.  1 GK in each goal.
• How many players are in each line will depend on the numbers you are starting with (1v0, 1v1, 2v1 ect)

Procedure

• 1 Blue attacker dribbles out and shoots from 20 yards out
• Immediately after the shot 2 Red attackers dribble out and go 2v1 versus the Blue player

• As soon as the 2v1 is over the next 2 Blues step on to create a 3v2
• The 3v2 continues until a goal is scored or the ball goes out of bounds.

• When the 3v2 ball is dead, no matter where the ball goes out, the next 2 Red players step onto the field to create a 4v3

• The game continues until all the players are on the field

Make It Competitive

• Keep track of the goals for each round and play a Best of 5 Series

Variations
This game can start out a number of different ways depending on what you are working on.  You can begin with a player coming from each goal to play

• 1v1  You can begin with a player coming from each goal to play.  Whoever scores on the 1v1 will send out the next player to create a 2v1. 
• 2v1 The attacking team starts with 2 players and the defending team sends out one defender
• 2v1 With A Target: The attacking team sends out a target player and begins with a defender on her back.  The ball starts from the post with a pass up to the target player and that player follows her pass to create the 2v1.
• 3v2 With A Target: Same set up as the 2v1

IV. 9v9 Scrimmage

V. Evan Fitness

I want to make sure we are in good shape going out this weekend so everyone can play a lot.

I. Evan Fitness

II. 7v6 To Goal With Counters

III. Scrimmage vs U14 Whites

U13 Training Session:

I am running the 13's training session today after our session.

I.  Shooting Repetition Competition

II. Transition Game

III. Cut Throat