An attack minded session on making decisions and speed of play [ARTICLE]

Marshall Men - Speed of Play

An attack minded session on making decisions and speed of play

By: Sammy Boateng

Provided by the NSCAA

Category: Tactical: Attacking principles
Difficulty: Difficult
Am-Club: West Virginia Soccer Club

Warm-up (10 min)

Players go through a circuit with different movements.
A: Hurdles - run through, one foot, two feet, sideways
B: Poles - shuffle through sideways, backwards then coach serves them a ball and must use inside or laces to play back to coach
C: Ladders - hop scotch, shuffle, hops, etc...
D: Ball work through cones - left or right foot, roll ball, inside or outside of feet
After players get warmed up there needs to be a change of pace to the blue cones after drill. Players can stretch after warm-up.

Transition Box (15 mins)

25 x 25
Red team plays blue team. Both team try to get from one side of the box to the opposite. Players swap with outside players after they pass to them. Player must enter field with the ball. Each team gets 1 point for getting ball from one side of the field to another and back. First team to 7 points win. There will be 2 different groups and they switch after 10 minutes.

Coaching points:
-Speed of play
-Quick smart decisions
-Patience
-Connecting with outside player

Transition Box Progression (15 mins)

Coaching points:
-Speed of play
-Quick smart decisions
-Patience
-Connecting with outside player

3 Goal Game (20 mins)

80 x 60
Both teams attack the 3 smaller goals. Progression:
-2 touch limit
-Each team must connect with center forward
-The ball can't stop moving or other team gets it
-Can't score on the same goal twice in a row

Coaching points:
-Keep ball moving
-Combination play and penetrating passes or run to get behind defense
-Speed of play
-Players need to look up and have an idea before the ball gets to them
-Players need to focus on making quick and correct decisions
-Connect with the forward and supporting runs