08 Sep 2016

Developing the skill of forward runs for forward passes

How do the opposition influence the decisions and the execution of the technique required of the attacking team making forward runs for forward passing. In this rotating, fast moving, conditioned game, the attacking team have to constantly make good decisions about whether to keep possession or to look to play positive passes for forward runners and get behind the defenders.

FREE E BOOK ON THE SKILL OF FORWARD RUNS FOR FORWARD PASSES

ORGANISATION

• Suggested areas: 40 x 20 yards inside area: 15 x 5 yards shaded target areas at both ends: 40 x 5 yard wide area both sides: 10 yard central area.
• Two target players in both target areas – like sweeper GK’s
• Play 5 attackers v 3 defenders. Encourage the attacking team to have at least one player in the attacking half whenever a target player has the ball to stretch the pitch long and create space to make it difficult for the defenders.
• Adjust the size of the area to suit the age, ability and number of players.
• The practice can be adjusted for 8 – 14 players

EQUIPMENT

• Supply of footballs, cones to mark out areas and bibs.

PURPOSE

• To improve the Skill of Forward Runs for Forward Passing

START

• The ball starts with one of the target players
• The objective of the practice is for the attacking team to receive the ball from the target player, combine to pass to a forward running player(s), pass into the opposite target player and then attack again in the opposite direction, repeating the practice
• If defenders win the ball they try and keep the ball, they can use the target players
• If ball goes out of play the Coach serves a ball to an attacker
• In this example, the target player has passed to a free player. One of the players has made an overlapping forward run to receive a forward pass in a wide area. The ball is then passed into the opposite target player

SUPPORT AS THE BALL MOVES

• As the ball is passed into the target player. The attacking team reacts and looks to create space as a team by moving wide and long – at least one attacker in the attacking half of the pitch.
• In this example, the attackers pass to a player that encourages a defender to press the player receiving the ball. This creates space in a wider area that can be exploited by a timed forward run in a wide area.

DECISIONS

• It will not always be possible to create a forward run / forward pass opportunity quickly as the defenders might defend well and prevent this happening. Therefore the attacking players need to recognise and make decisions about whether they make the forward runs / forward passes or be patient, retain possession, pull the defenders about until an opportunity is created elsewhere for a forward run / forward pass

THROUGH  BALLS FOR FORWARD RUNS

• In this example, the player on the ball is pressured by the defenders.
• The attacker now makes an initial move wide to create space and open up a passing channel away from the defenders.
• The forward then makes a timed, angled forward run for a timed, accurate, and well weighted through pass beyond the defenders. The ball is then passed into the target player.

To see how the rest of the session develops and evolves, down load the free E Book:

FREE E BOOK ON THE SKILL OF FORWARD RUNS FOR FORWARD PASSES