Roy Millar is currently Director of Coaching for the Irish Football Association as well as the coach for the N. Ireland U21 National team. He has a wealth of international experience working with and educating coaches of all levels in his capacity as both a UEFA Staff Instructor and FIFA representative.
Emphasis:
Passing – finding the penetrating pass.
Players – mobility and support.
Principles – width, blind side running, diagonal running.
Exercise #1:
Set up:
The field is organized as shown in Diagram (a). Areas are created to accommodate two 4 v 4 games.
Objective:
Both teams compete for possession of the ball. Points are awarded for successfully penetrating the opponents’ end-line. In Diagram (a) the yellow team must try to penetrate into the 18-yard box: the red must try to release a player on the half-way line. To encourage quick play both teams should attempt to score within one minute. Play continues for a designated period of time or for a predetermined number of points. In Diagram (a) player (A) has played a penetrating pass to player (B) who is spinning inside his marker. Also, player (C) has checked to the ball to create space for the diagonal run from player (D). (E) plays a penetrating pass to player (D).
Coaching Points:
- Encourage quick, sharp ball movement.
- Players must offer proper angles of support.
- Mobility of players – diagonal runs, angle of runs, timing of runs, blind-side running.
- Penetrate at every opportunity.
- Principles of width and depth must be addressed.
Exercise #2:
Emphasis:
Penetration through pattern play, encouraging the correct choice of passes. Mobility and movement of players to get into goal scoring positions.
Set up:
The field is organized as shown in diagram (b). Channels are created along the length of the field. Players (A, B) from each team are positioned in each channel in an advanced area of the field. A 6 v 6 plus goalkeepers is organized in the central playing area.
Objective:
Both teams compete for possession of the ball. The channel players cannot defend against each other but must play with a two-touch restriction to encourage realistic play. Wide channel players are encouraged to deliver quality balls into the box for their teammates to attack. Goals can be scored through the general run of play or from crosses from the wide channel players. The channel players are not required to cross the ball on every occasion: they may combine with any of their teammates in the central playing area. In Diagram (b) player (C) passes to the center forward (D). (D) plays the ball first time to a wide player (A). Player (A) can then take a touch before delivering a cross into the box.
Progression:
- Two touch restriction on all players.
- Unlimited touches – still encouraging sharp movement of the ball.
Coaching Points:
- Correct choice of pass is vital – when to layoff, when to play the ball wide, when to shoot, etc.
- Mobility of all players
- Angles and timing of support from wide players is crucial if effective crosses are required.
- Encourage the central players to make positive forward runs into the box to attack crosses from wide areas.
- Channel players should look to deliver early crosses in behind the opposition defenders.