Football Association of Ireland

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Attacking Defending

Attacking with Transition to Defend – Midfielders and Attackers

9 v 9 Small Sided Game designed to improve the combinations and movement of the Midfield and Attackers.

Key objectives

Starting Positions – Defenders spread out to receive pass from Goalkeeper, Midfield 3 one Holding Midfielder (6) and 2 Advanced Midfielders (8 & 10), Wingers wide and Center Forward in between Center Backs
Midfielder’s movement to receive, look to play forward, open body shape.
Quality of pass, accuracy and pace
Players looking to receive ball in between and behind opposition
Encourage 1 v 1’s in Wide areas
Position for crosses as per picture – Center Forward near post, one Midfielder on penalty spot, one just outside area and one holding, opposite Winger back post
Transition to Defend can we win it back as quickly as possible? As high up as possible?

Organisation

Area: Full width of pitch, length end line to 18 yard box. Cut off the sides on one end
9 v 9 Game: Blue Team 2-3-3 v Yellow Team 4-3-1
Supply of balls in each goal
Goalkeeper starts the play at all times with the ball in the middle of 6 yard box

Session details

Attacking
Defending

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Session plan

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