Passing session: position-specific play

Session plan

Want to try this with your team? Download the session plan and give it a go.  

Organisation

This session was initially designed for 17-21s and is explained here with that age group in mind. However, this idea can be adapted to suit the age and stage of your players.  

Set up a 50x60-yard area in the middle of your pitch for this overloaded game. Then create an end zone at one end. You’ll be using the penalty area and goal nearest that end for this practice, too. 

There’s no end zone needed on the opposite side of the area. Instead, place three smaller goals down around ten yards beyond it. Space these goals out. 

As for players, the yellow team is made up of a goalkeeper and five outfielders. The keeper goes in the large goal, while the others can go anywhere in the area – except from in the end zone. 

Whereas the blue team consists of eight position-specific outfielders. They are:  

• two centre-backs who stay out of the area to defend the three small goals 
• three midfielders who take up positions within the area  
• two wingers who always stay outside the area and are unopposed 
• one striker who occupies the end zone.  

Effectively, they’re set up within a 4-2-3-1 formation, just without the full-backs and goalkeeper.  

How to play

This game is about combining with teammates to score. But the real focus of this practice is on the blue team. They have set positions as highlighted above. So, it’s all about how they move as a team, within their structure, to deny the opposition and create opportunities to play forward themselves. They’ll need to think about their positioning to receive the ball, their movement, who the best option is to pass to and what passing technique to use.  

Play the ball to the yellow team’s deepest player to start this practice. They then combine with their four teammates to get past the three opponents in the area. They aim to score into any of the small goals.   

Meanwhile, the blue team must stop them from doing so. But as they’re locked into positions, it’s up to their midfielders in the area to win the ball, or up to their centre-backs to intercept an effort on goal. Once they’ve got possession, they need to build their own attack and figure out how to get it to their striker in the end zone. If they pass to them successfully, their striker breaks out of the end zone and races into the box for a 1v1 against the goalkeeper. 

But before you begin, here are some rules to keep in mind:

• The yellow team can’t leave the area, so they can’t tackle anyone outside of it, and they can’t enter the end zone.  
• The blue team’s centre-backs are unopposed but must stay at the back, protecting the small goals. 
• The blue team’s wingers are unopposed and can move up and down their wings but can’t enter the area.
• The blue team’s striker is locked into the end zone until they receive the ball.  
• When a goal is scored by either side, the blue team restarts the practice. 

Progression

If your players master your activity – or find it too hard – try adding a progression.  

But whatever you do, remember that learning takes time. So don’t alter your activity too quickly – or too much. Try using the STEP framework (Youth Sports Trust, 2002). This helps keep things fun, engaging and appropriate.  

One idea is to turn this into an 11v11 game. Do this by making the following changes.

Space 

• Extend the original end zone so it runs up to the edge of the 18-yard box.
• Add a new end zone at the opposite end of the area.
  
  

Equipment 

• Replace the three small goals the blue team were defending with a big goal. Place this in the new end zone.
  
  

Players 

• Give the blue team a keeper and two full-backs. The full-backs stay on the outside of the area. 
• Provide the yellow team with more players to ensure they have nine inside the main area. 
• Add a player into the original end zone for the yellow team. Their job is to mark the blue team’s striker. They stay in the end zone unless the striker breaks out towards goal. In this case, they chase after the striker and try to stop them from scoring. 
• The blue team’s wingers can now go into the main area whenever they want. And if their striker breaks through on goal, one player can join them. This makes it a 2v2 scenario against the opposition’s defender and keeper. 
• At the opposite end, the yellow team now have an end zone they can go in, too. They can create a 3v3 in here against the blue team’s centre-backs and keeper.
  
  

Once you’ve put this session into practice, share your experience on the England Football Community.