Dave Clarke is currently an Instructor for the US Soccer Federation; in his role as an Instructor he teaches components of the USSF A, B + C Licenses at courses nationwide. Dave also performs the role of Licensing Director for the State of Connecticut. For the past 17 years Dave has held the position of Head Coach at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. Dave also holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and currently writes articles on the latest soccer developments for several successful journals and websites. Dave is a regular contributor to SoccerSpecific.com.
The following session was performed by the U14 US National Team at a recent training camp.
This session will allow your players to understand and rehearse the various 2v1 situations that may arise when going to goal. Communication (verbal + non-verbal), decision-making and technical execution are all addressed and developed within the progressions.
1.
Setup:
Players organised in groups of 4 as shown.
(A) + (B) work as a pair at each end of the grid.
Instructions:
PASSING COMBINATIONS – working in Pairs:
Phase 1: Player (A) passes to (B) who lays back to (A) who plays long to opposite (A).
Progression 1: Wall Pass combination – (A) passes to (B) who lays a leading ball to (A) who then plays to opposite (A).
Progression 2: Overlap combination – (A) passes to (B) who takes an aggressive touch inside, (A) overlaps (B) who then slips a ball forward to (A) for a pass to opposite (A).
Each combination 2 minutes approx.
Coaching Points:
Pace of pass, play the proper foot or space, movement/timing off the ball, taking “looks”, deception and fakes – disguise passes.
2.
Setup:
Players organised in groups of 4 as shown.
(A) + (B) work as a pair at each end of the grid.
Instructions:
PASSING COMBINATIONS – working in Pairs:
Phase 1: Player (A) passes to (B) who lays back to (A) who plays long to opposite (A).
Progression 1: Wall Pass combination – (A) passes to (B) who lays a leading ball to (A) who then plays to opposite (A).
Progression 2: Overlap combination – (A) passes to (B) who takes an aggressive touch inside, (A) overlaps (B) who then slips a ball forward to (A) for a pass to opposite (A).
Each combination 2 minutes approx.
Coaching Points:
Pace of pass, play the proper foot or space, movement/timing off the ball, taking “looks”, deception and fakes – disguise passes.
3.
Setup:
Players organised as shown; one group of players designated as ‘defenders’ (Red). An end-zone and goalkeeper in full-sized goal is utilised.
Instructions:
DEVELOPMENT OF 2v1 SITUATIONS:
Activity uses a passive / semi-passive defender (Red). Players have to score from inside the end-zone with max 2 touches.
Player (A) passes to partner who then dribbles at defender and plays back to teammate positioned as a wall to side of Defender. Player (A) touch passes back to partner behind the defender.
Rotate Defender after 2-3 repetitions.
Coaching Points:
Engage the defender’s attention off the dribble. Pass to front foot, try to fake before you pass, no look pass, deception, using outside of your foot and proper foot (closest to teammate), be sure pass is penetrative.
4.
Setup:
Players organised as shown; one group of players designated as ‘defenders’ (Red). An end-zone and goalkeeper in full-sized goal is utilised.
Instructions:
DEVELOPMENT OF 2v1 SITUATIONS:
Activity uses a passive / semi-passive defender (Red). Players have to score from inside the end-zone with max 2 touches.
Player (A) passes to partner who dribbles at pave towards defender; Player (A) performs an overlapping run to receive a penetrative into space.
Rotate Defender after 2-3 repetitions.
Coaching Points:
Dribble inside to create width outside. Pass must be penetrative and released so defender cannot defend both. Play to teammate’s front foot, try to fake before you pass, no look pass, deception, using outside of foot of the foot closest to teammate.
5.
Setup:
Players organised as shown; one group of players designated as ‘defenders’ (Red). An end-zone and goalkeeper in full-sized goal is utilised.
Instructions:
DEVELOPMENT OF 2v1 SITUATIONS:
Activity uses a passive / semi-passive defender (Red). Players have to score from inside the end-zone with max 2 touches.
Player (A) passes to partner positioned wide and higher, who receives with their low foot away from pressure. Partner engages 1st defender with 2-3 touches (defender slides). Teammate underlaps centrally/vertically to get behind Defender; partner must play a well timed pass behind Defender.
Rotate Defender after 2-3 repetitions.
Coaching Points:
Engage defender, time release of pass to arrive behind defender early and softly. Run is vertical and hard behind defender so defender cannot defend both players.
6.
Setup:
Players organised as shown; one group of players designated as ‘defenders’ (Red). An end-zone and goalkeeper in full-sized goal is utilised.
Instructions:
DEVELOPMENT OF 2v1 SITUATIONS:
Activity uses a passive / semi-passive defender (Red). Players have to score from inside the end-zone with max 2 touches.
Player (A) plays penetrative (high) pass to teammate with defender marking tight from behind. Teammate lays it back (low) to (A) while peeling/spinning off wide then high. Player (A) then has options to play a penetrative pass to teammate.
Rotate Defender after 2-3 repetitions.
Coaching Points:
Play forward passes, move in support under player with back to goal, high player spins/peels off wide then high to create passing channel and remain on-side.
7.
Setup:
Squad split into 2 teams. An end-zone and goalkeeper in full-sized goal is utilised.
Instructions:
COMPETITIVE GAME: 2v1 SITUATIONS:
Split group into two teams. One Defender involved in each sequence. Attacking team has 3 choices on where to play the ball; Once it is played in, they join to create combinations to get to goal. Cannot score until the zone is penetrated.
1 min competition with live defender focusing on combination play.
1min rest and change the roles for 2min. 2 x for each team of 5
Keep score throughout competition
Coaching Points:
Recognising what combination is on and why? Technical execution of the correct decision!