Attacking Combination Play Play with width, play at speed.PDF

This session guide assumes you have 60 minutes with 16 players but as our guidelines point out, this can be adapted based on the number of players you have in your team.

As your confidence grows you may adapt or experiment with the practices provided, but these tasks are designed to follow a process which gradually ramps up the challenge for the players from minute one to minute sixty.

The key below outlines what the images mean on the diagrams.

We have created a series of themed practices which allow players to experiment on the ball under no pressure, limited pressure and full pressure.

From a coaching perspective, understanding the level and needs of your players will help you decide when you should ramp up the challenge, or potentially reduce it.

If you have questions about the practices, contact the PDP Team or share your views on the Player Development Project Slack Community.

Combination play and finishing can often be highly engaging and enjoyable topic for players.

By ensuring the practice contains game realistic information, you can help players develop their skills under pressure to create and score.

It’s most likely that fast combination play and finishing will take place in the attacking third, or around/inside the opposition penalty area.

Therefore, when setting up your practices, try and replicate these areas if possible.

It’s also worth noting that when trying to create and score in these attacking areas, players usually have less time on the ball, are up against more opponents and need to make fast decisions.

Try to ensure your practices simulate these kind of scenarios. Avoid players standing in lines waiting for their turn to shoot at goal, and keep the practice realistic to the game.

In the sessions that follow, you will see a combination play/positional game to get the practice going, followed by two small sided games.

The positional game is designed to get players attuned to moving the ball quickly and receiving in space and facing forward (if possible).

The small-sided games are designed to replicate realistic goal scoring moments from close range where the ball may be delivered at varying angles/speeds, or where players have to unlock the opposition defence.

Adapt the practices to the age, stage and ability of the players you are working with and don’t be afraid to experiment with different area sizes or rules within the game. Importantly, be patient as the players learn the task and allow time for them to establish understanding.