Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): The Play Maker - 12U-14U

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This practice helps you coach a key player on your team to help set up plays and unlock the opposition's defence. Balls played into space and beyond the defenders and into wide areas are encouraged, as are quick passes.

Set Up:

1) Area of 45x30

2) Divide field up into three 15 yard zones

3) Three teams of four plus 2 Gks

4) Extra balls by the goals

Rules:

The games starts and restarts from the Gks who passes to a defender in their defensive third. Two teams on the field playing 5v5 including the GKs, and four members of the remaining team are around the edge (bumpers) to help the attacking team. With the fifth member on the pitch as the "play maker". Players must stay in their zones apart from the "play maker" who can play anywhere. The ball must go through all zones starting from the GK.

Things to Remember:

This is a great way to get one player used to moving all over the pitch, using support from teammates and passing into dangerous areas. It helps the key player to understand how overloads can work as he/she goes into the different thirds. He/she becomes the player who can change the balance in favor of the attacking team.