U12 Training Reflection (1.20.22)

Principle: Possession

Sub-Principle: (A) Finishing with Numerical Superiority (B) Build-up from the Back

Sub-Sub-Principle: (a) Wide Possession (b) Switching Play through a Pivot

First Part - Technical Activation

In the first part of the practice we worked on some of our weak points from the weekend game: throw-ins, switching play quickly, finishing 1v1 with GK. To capture these we designed a small passing and finishing circuit that included a throw-in to initiate the circuit. This also allowed us to get some switching both at the backline and through the midfield.

The progression also allowed a combination (WB wall pass with the CAM) which relevant for something we can use in the game. However, our crossing finishing was poor - perhaps the next circuit we can emphasize this a bit more.

We introduced the fake throw-in and feint before reception, we need to keep practicing these.

Second Part - 5v5+2 Positional Game

This practice was aimed at addressing our sub-principle of Finishing with Numerical Superiority. This practice was really designed to introduce the idea of "possession in the opponent's half" and to introduce the shape we are looking to adopt once we are in the opponent's half which is a 2-1-4 (see image below, this will be for the winter league only when we play 8v8).

I like how the conditions of defending in the low-block got the players into the idea of playing around the box, shifting the ball and looking for the openings. There was some great behaviors that arose: I saw wide players make runs in-behind the other wing-back, penetrating passes, I saw players accelerate from the transition and then pull back to retain possession, there was also an attempt for a diagonal pass (it got intercepted but the idea was there!). One thing that I also added was that goals need to be scored from inside the reference line.

What I think we lacked here though was there was more ideas of how to breakdown a low-block defense. What I would have liked to see here was more wall pass combinations on the sides or 1v1's to deliver crosses / pull-backs. We need to get into this idea of getting the ball wide to penetrate to either cross or shoot. Wide possession is definitely the sub-sub-principle we need to work on next week - once we naturally start to understand the width and how to score from those areas, center areas will naturally start to open up in our games and we can working on that sub-sub-principle next.

Final Part - 5v5+2 SSG

For the final portion of the session I removed the conditions and let the players play. I felt like I had intervened a fair amount during the session so decided to let the players play freely here.

For Game

- Check for understanding on throw-ins: fake throws, feints before reception, switches in midfield

- Focus on obtaining the offensive shape (patient passing, search for the openings)

Next Week

- Finishing circuit from wide areas

- Perhaps a circuit that has easy transfer to something a situation with numerical superiority

- Positional Practice: 7v4+(GK)