Stop a forward pass

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What this session is about

Improving the defensive duties of your midfielders.
Improving recovery runs.
Improve tracking the forward runs from opponents.

What to think about

Does your midfield work hard enough to stop the opponent’s forwards? If a pass is made into the opponent’s forward, do your defenders get tight and stop the players from turning, allowing the midfielders to make recovery runs? Do the midfielders recover and track forward runs from the opponent’s midfielders? This practice is aimed at improving these defensive midfield duties.

Set-up

40 x 30 yard area.

Warm up	Session	Development	Game Situation	Warm Down
10 minutes	15 minutes	15 minutes	15 minutes	5 minutes

What you get your players to do

The two midfielders must move across the line and stop the opponents making forward passes across to the other team.

If the midfielders intercept a pass they are replaced by the passer and the intended receiver.

The midfielders move from side to side to block the passing option.

Development

Add a goal, goalkeeper and two defenders, and remove the requirement for the midfielders to stay on the centre line.

The midfielders again try to stop the forward pass.

If the pass reaches a forward, the defenders need to hold up play by getting tight to the forwards and stop them from turning. This gives the midfielders time to make recovery runs.

Related Files

Advanced-087-Stop-a-forward-pass.pdfPDF, 210 KB

The defenders must hold up play to allow the midfielders to make recovery runs.

Game situation

Three opposing midfielders must try to pass to their attackers and then break out of the area to run forward and score.

Your midfielders must try to stop this forward pass and score in the mini goals.

However, if the ball does get to the forwards, the midfielders must react to make recovery runs and track any forward runs made by the opposing midfielders.

The two grey midfielders must stop the forward pass or they will have to track their opponent’s runs.

What to call out

“Close the gaps”
“Keep moving”
“Can you block the pass?”

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Coaches Testimonials

Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club

"I have been coaching competitive soccer for over 20 years in Las Vegas. I feel like you are my personal club director. My players and myself have learned a lot from your sessions. The exercises from Soccer Coach Weekly are easy to understand and implement. I never run out of ideas and there is always an exercise for whatever problem we need to fix. Thank you!"

Paul Butler, Florida, USA

"First and foremost, Soccer Coach Weekly is truly unique and exceptional for its clarity and for explaining the "why?", in addition to the "how?". Soccer Coach Weekly is also professionally managed - any issues, which are infrequent, are resolved in an expedient and courteous manner. I place Soccer Coach Weekly at the top of my recommendation list for any new or seasoned coach of the beautiful game."

Rick Shields, Springboro, USA

"I coach both young club players as well as players at the High School level and both genders. The talent range is wide at times, however with the use of Soccer Coach Weekly I am able to apply the information to all talent levels and player ages and make the session fun and challenging for all players. It has helped spark me at times when I am at a loss for what to do at the next training session or offers a different approach to a current problem."

Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada

"My team and myself are truly enjoying the Soccer Coach Weekly downloads. Pierrefonds Titans are a great group of U16 Females who compete in the Lac St-Louis Association of Montreal, Quebec, Canada."

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