With a major focus in youth development still firmly on a teams ability to keep possession, there can often be a disconnect whether a team retains possession for possession’s sake, or understands the need to penetrate in possession. Play Forward is a full youth session focusing on a team’s ability to advance forward, focusing specifically on player awareness, body position, first touch and mentality to play forward.
Play Forward
1.
Setup:
Play Forward Rondo- players split into groups of 6 with 2 rondo boxes side by side (10 x 10 each).
Instructions:
Attackers in box A have to try to keep the ball (3 v 1) while trying to progress from one end to Box B (1 v 1). When the ball transfers, 2 attacking players move to create a 3 v 1 in the opposite box, leaving a 1 v 1 in Box A.
Coaching Points:
- Possession to find the open man (draw the opposition in)
- Body position to play forward- on the half turn, able to play forward to the opposite grid when possible
- Pass detail- play to the foot furthest away to allow the attacker to play forward
2.
Setup:
Field set up (25 x 20 yard possession box). In this 3 v 3 + 2 positional game, 2 teams of 3 play against each other with the help of 2 neutrals (green).
Instructions:
Team in possession (red) attempts to keep possession with the two neutrals. If the defending team (yellow) recover the ball, they keep possession with the neutrals.
Progression: 8 consecutive passes equals a point
Coaching Points:
- Possession to find the open man (draw the opposition in)
- Body position to play forward- on the half turn, able to play forward to the opposite grid when possible
- Pass detail- play to the foot furthest away to allow the attacker to play forward
3.
Setup:
Play Forward Passing Pattern to goal. Rondo (4 v 2) set up with 10 x 10 leading into the final third, with 4 mannequins set up on top of the box.
Instructions:
Ball starts with the 4 attackers in the rondo box (4 v 2) who complete 5 passes and then play forward to the 3 attackers. Defensive group plays to the mini goals when winning possession. When receiving, the 3 attackers must combine (at least 2 players involved) to go to goal.
Coaching Points:
- Possession to find the open man (draw the opposition in)
- Body position to play forward- on the half turn, able to play forward to the opposite grid when possible
- Pass detail- play to the foot furthest away to allow the attacker to play forward
4.
Setup:
Play Forward Phase Play to goal. Open field now with players playing in a 7 v 6 + GK.
Instructions:
Ball starts at the halfway line with the attacking group. When possible the midfielders attempt to break the midfield line (4 v 3) to play to the forwards to go to goal. Defensive group plays to the mini goals when winning possession. Pressure starts passive and then progresses to real in subsequent sets.
Coaching Points:
- Possession to find the open man (draw the opposition in)
- Body position to play forward- on the half turn, able to play forward to the opposite grid when possible
- Pass detail- play to the foot furthest away to allow the attacker to play forward
5.
Setup:
Play Forward 6 v 6 + 3 neutrals. Play takes part in a 55 x 44 yard area (half field). Attacking team has 3 neutrals to help them ‘play forward’.
Instructions:
Balls start at each goal with the team building and attempting to score. Neutrals have 2 touches and cannot score.
Progression: take out 2 neutrals and add one to each team, to make it 7 v 7 + 1. This should make it more difficult to find the open man.
Coaching Points:
- Possession to find the open man (draw the opposition in)
- Body position to play forward- on the half turn, able to play forward to the opposite grid when possible
- Pass detail- play to the foot furthest away to allow the attacker to play forward
Try Play Forward, a Full Youth Session, with your teams today!