Anthony Latronica is currently part of the coaching staff for the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team. The team is in the process of preparing for the U-17 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Chile this October-November. The following is a comprehensive session with passing, possession, small-sided directional game and full-field patterns to goal.
Activity #1:
Setup:
21 Field players, 10-11 players per grid, two identical grids set up next to each other 45×30. 3 variations, 3 minutes per variation.
Instructions:
First passing pattern shown. Red A passes it to B, B turns and passes it to C who pulls away from the flag (defender) and plays it to D who turns either way and passes it to E. E finishes the sequence by dribbling at pace to the end of the line. Variations include player E dribbling it to the end of line, dribbling it half way and then passing it to the end of the line or striking the ball with his laces to the player at the end of the line. Players always rotate by advancing one cone in the sequence. 12 minutes.
Coaching Points:
- Timing of runs
- Turning with the ball
- Pulling away from the defender (flags) in order to create space to receive the ball
- Quality of the pass and movements
Activity #2:
Setup:
21 players, 10-11 players per grid, two identical grids set up next to each other 45×30. 3 variations, 3 minutes per variation.
Instructions:
The second passing progression is as follows, player 1 passes it to 2 who lays it back to 1 who plays it long to 3, 3 combos wall passes with 2 and then plays to 4 who lays it back to 3 who plays it long to 5 who wall passes with 4 and then 5 dribbles to the end of the line. Variations include player 5 dribbling to the end of the line and striking the ball with his laces to the player at the end of the line. Players always rotate by advancing one cone in the sequence. 12 minutes.
Coaching Points:
- Timing of runs
- Turning with the ball
- Pulling away from the defender (flags) in order to create space to receive the ball
- Quality of the pass and movements
Activity #3
Set up:
21 field players, 10-11 players per grid, two identical grids set up next to each other 45×30. 3 variations, 3 minutes per variation.
Instructions:
First passing pattern shown. Red A passes it to B, B lays it back to A who plays it forward to C. Player C lays it back to B who then plays it across to D, D lays it back to C who plays it forward to E. E lays it back to D for a wall pass around the flag. E finishes the sequence by dribbling at pace to the end of the line. Variations include player E dribbling it to the end of the line, dribbling it half way and then passing it to the end of the line or striking the ball with his laces to the player at the end of the line. Players always rotate by advancing one cone in the sequence. 12 minutes.
Coaching Points:
- Timing of runs
- Turning with the ball
- Pulling away from the defender (flags) in order to create space to receive the ball
- Quality of the pass and movements
Activity #4:
Setup:
8v8+2 possession, functional position specific, 44×45 (top of the penalty box to half field, the width of the penalty area) 26 field players.
Instructions:
Teams in a 4-1-3, 3 teams, 4 games, 2 minutes each. 12 minutes.
Coaching Points:
- Transition
- Team shape
- Small group tactics building up to a 4-1-3
- Compactness
- Possession
- All previous defensive and attacking principles
Activity #5:
Setup:
6 goal game, 10V10 + 2, 45X65 yard field (top of the 18 yard box to 5 yards past midfield), 18 players, 3 sets, 5 minutes. 15 minutes total.
Instructions:
Position specific possession game. Both teams function in a 4-3-3 formation. Normal soccer rules apply. Variations could include touch restriction for the neutral players as well as the regular players.
Coaching Points:
- Create numbers up situations
- Switch the point of attack quickly
- Penetrate open space on the rubble, pass or shot
- All previous attacking principles
- Defend higher up the field away from your own goals
- Hunt in packs
- Win the ball back immediately
- Surround the ball with numbers
- 1V1 defending technique
Activity #6:
Setup:
Offensive Pattern Play to Goal, Version 1: Pattern starts from half field to condense the space. 23 field players and 3 GKs. Depending on the numbers, split squad using each half of the field.
Instructions:
Pattern as shown, repeat the other side. 4, 5, 3, 6, 11, 8, 9 and 5, 4, 2, 8, 7, 6, 9. Coach initiates the attack each sequence, alternate sides.
Coaching Points:
- Movement of the 8 and 6, 10 joins to finish along with the 7 or 11
- Speed of play
- Quality of the passing
- First touch
- Weight and speed of the build up
- Realistic
Activity #7:
Setup:
Offensive Pattern Play to Goal, Version 2: Pattern starts from half field to condense the space. 23 field players and 3 GKs. Depending on the numbers, split squad using each half of the field.
Instructions:
Pattern as shown, repeat the other side. 4, 5, 3, 6, 5, 9, 10, 7 and 5, 4, 2, 8, 4, 9, 10, 11. Coach initiates the attack each sequence, alternate sides.
Coaching Points:
- Movement off the 8 and 6, layoff of the 9, penetration and decision making of the 7 and 11 of when to dribble or shoot or potentially slip the opposite forward through to goal.
- Speed of play
- Quality of passing
- First touch
- Weight and speed of the build up
- Realistic
Activity #8:
Setup:
Offensive Pattern Play to Goal, Version 3: Pattern starts from half field to condense the space. 23 field players and 3 GKs. Depending on the numbers, split squad using each half of the field.
Instructions:
Pattern as shown, repeat the other side. 4, 3, 10, 6, 7, 10, 2 and 5, 2, 10, 8, 11, 10, 3. Coach initiates the attack each sequence, alternate sides.
Coaching Points:
- Movement of the 7/11 to drive inside and open channel for overlapping back
- Movement of the 10 to get underneath the 7/11 for the layoff, the 9 pulling away and then attacking the space in the box
- Speed and timing of the 2/3 overlapping runs
- Overall speed of play
- Quality of the passing
- First touch
- Weight and speed of the build up
- Realistic
- Free time
- 20 minute restarts