Clint Peay is the Head Coach of the New England Revolution II team and former Head Coach of the U.S. U14 Boy’s National Team and Technical Advisor for U.S. Soccer covering the Atlantic region. Prior to that experience, Clint served as the Head Coach of the University of Richmond men’s soccer team before the program was cut in 2012 and as an Assistant Coach for the U.S. U17 Men’s National Team. Clint won 4 National Championships at the University of Virginia under Bruce Arena and 3 MLS Cups with DC United.
This ‘Create and Exploit Wide Areas’ session was executed by Coach Peay in his sixth and final camp with the 2003 birth year when he was the head coach of the U-14 Boys National Team. In this particular session the emphasis was on not only creating width but exploiting it as well. Adapt for your own environment!
You can also listen to our Just Kickin’ It podcast with Clint Peay here!
Create And Exploit Wide Areas
1.
Setup:
6V6+2 switch the point of attack with locked defenders.
Instructions:
Teams of 6 players and 2 neutrals in wide areas. Each team places one player in each of the six zones. Offensively, attackers may enter any zone they wish to create 2v1’s or 3v1’s. Attacking team tries to dribble through wide gates. Defensive team players are locked to their zone and may not cross into another zone to help defend.
Coaching Points:
Finding space, recognizing when to change the point, angles to support, playing on different lines.
2.
Setup:
5V5+1 in a 44X40 playing area and 8X8 grids organized as shown. Two identical set ups.
Instructions:
The red and white teams maintain possession in the playing area with the objective of finding the right moment to penetrate the four zones in the corners of the field. Variations include: 8 passes is a goal, directional, multi-directional.
Coaching Points:
Encourage your teams to create overloads by switching the point of attack and by utilizing the neutral player. Create 1V1 and 2V1 scenarios in wide areas. Make sure your teams have good spacing and team shape with proper height and width. Be aggressive on the dribble, take players on 1V1 and penetrate lines with dribble, pass, and well timed runs.
3.
Setup:
10V10 game in a 60X70 playing area set up as shown. No GKs and small goals used for this activity. Both teams are organized in a 4-3-3.
Instructions:
Switch the point of attack and dribble through the gates or simply score on the central small goal through the run of play. The team in possession (white) looks to draw the defending team over with short combination play. At the right moment they try and switch the point quickly. The defending team (red) is compacted into 2/3 of the field and try to press the attacking team to one side. 2X6 minutes.
Coaching Points:
Awareness and perception to see the switch, body shape to change point, creating space in wide areas.
4.
Setup:
11V11 game to two big goals organized as shown.
Instructions:
Two teams of 11 players. Team in possession tries to create a numerical advantage in wide areas to penetrate the defense through either wide gate. Once passing or dribbling through the gate the team must look to cross the ball. Team in possession may shoot centrally as well from inside the main playing area. Defending team must shift into the middle and wide zones where the ball is located, leaving the weak-side zone open. 2X8 minutes.
Coaching Points:
Two teams of 11 players. Team in possession tries to create a numerical advantage in wide areas to penetrate the defense through either wide gate. Once passing or dribbling through the gate the team must look to cross the ball. Team in possession may shoot centrally as well from inside the main playing area. Defending team must shift into the middle and wide zones where the ball is located, leaving the weak-side zone open. 2X8 minutes.
5.
Setup:
11V11 box to box. Both teams organized in a 4-3-3.
Instructions:
Reduce length to 18 to 18 yard box but keep full width to increase moments of attacking principles. 2X8 minutes.
Coaching Points:
All previous coaching points.