Cut Throat

Set Up

• Two teams
• Four lines on each end line with gk's 
• Double the 18

Procedure

• The Blue team starts with a ball from their right post.  All four blues run out to attack.
• Four Reds step out to defend.
• Players play 4v4
• If a ball goes over the endline (whether it is a goal or missed shot) the team whose endline the ball went over, leaves the field 
• Four new Reds bring on a ball and attack the Blues
• If the ball goes over the side line, both teams are out and the team who did not play the ball out of bounds, brings on the new ball.
• 

Key Points

• Change lanes and change speeds
• Take your pictures
• Attackers need to be wider than the defenders
• Hit your window
• If you cannot attack, escape

3v2 to 4v3

Set Up

• Blue Team and Yellow Team
• Goals were 40 yards apart and we played the entire width

Activity

• Yellow defender on the side line dribbles a ball out and plays it to one of the attacking Blue players.
• Second yellow defender starts up in the middle of the grid.
• The Blues attack 3v2
• 

• After a shot is taken or the defenders win the ball, the next two Yellow's join the game to create a 4v3
  • If the first ball is still in play, via goalie save or defenders winning the ball, they continue to use that ball. 
• If the ball was scored or is out of play the Yellow player on the right post brings on a new ball.

• Offside is in effect

Key Points

• Change lanes and change speed
• Use the width of the field to create early crosses
  • The defenders will defend the area in front of the goal first, so if you bounce out wide you can play an early cross 
  • If the defenders start to defend the wide players, you will be able to play split passes down the middle
• Prepare yourself to score or set up a goal with your run

Movement in & Around the 18 Yard Box- Training September 16th

I) 3v1 

• Lots of communication and energy
• Constantly work on footwork to receive ball across your body
• If you cannot receive the ball across your body, play it one touch back to where it came from
• Progress to trying to nutmeg the defender

II) Pull Away Pattern Shooting

1. First forward pulls away from the defender and receives a pass from the midfielder & finishes

Key Points

• Focus on the footwork to pull away from the defender so the pass can beat the defender
• Receive across body and step in with plant foot to protect the ball
• Have your eyes on the goal as you move so you know where to shoot

2. As the first forward receives the pass, the second forward checks towards the midfielder to lose her man

3. After the shot is taken the first foward checks back towards the midfielder to recieve a pass from the midfielder.  The second forward darts towards the top of the box and receives a set pass from the first forward and finishes with a one touch shot.

Key Points

• Timing of runs is crucial
• Footwork and speed to lose your man
• Quality set pass from the first forward 
• Work on bending your shot around the keeper

Training Modification

As I was setting up the activity I realized I could continue to build on the point of pulling away from your defender to allow the pass to beat the defender by adding in a midfield start.  We concentrated on the footwork for the midfielder and after the pass was made, dribbling to the middle to create a good angle for our first pass and draw the defenders to create space.

As we progressed through the activity we added in the runs for the second forward.  

• As the midfielder is dribbling towards the second forward she is pulling away while the first forward checks.
• The midfielder could then choose to play either side and we adjusted the remaining part of the pattern based on where the pass was played.

III) Box Organization Crossing & Finishing

I grabbed this activity from Bobby Puppione from CUP.  Changed it to have 4 runners in the box and just 3 defenders.  I also had the defenders play as a back 3 so they were not just man marking in the box and the play resembled attacking in a game a bit more.  

I also moved the crossers so we had them dribbling for an end line cross for one set and the other went wide to play in the early cross.  Before the defenders or attackers could be involved in a cross we had them make it to a set line so players were not camping out in the box and they had to be moving towards the goal.

IV) Scrimmage