Challenging session: read and react

Session

England Football Learning

3 mins - Jul 1, 2024

Session overview

This session will help players:

understand how to win the ball back
keep the ball once they have won it
learn how to move into a counter-attack.

If you like this idea, download the session plan and give it a go. And don't forget to share your experience on the England Football Community. We'd love to know how you got on.

Session setup

For this example, we've used half a pitch and 16 players. To get set up, split your players into pairs and mark out a few small gates using cones inside the area.

Read and react

Have the pairs stand across from each other on either side of a gate. One player starts with a ball and throws it to their partner. They then try to dribble around the outside of one of the cones. The player who has thrown the ball aims to stop their partner from getting around the cone.
Move the session on by creating two parallel practices. Create two rectangular areas. One should be long and narrow, the other short and wide. Each area should have one end zone and one defender. Mark out a line in the middle in the longer area.
In the longer area, the defender stays in the half closest to the end zone. The attackers line up outside the area. One attacker starts with the ball. The ball is played into the defender, and the attacker enters the opposite half. The defender then plays the ball back to the attacker.
The two players then have a 1v1. The attacker aims to get into the end zone. If the defender wins the ball, they must play it to the next attacker and the 1v1 repeats.
In the shorter area, the attacker starts with the ball, aiming to get into the end zone. If the defender wins the ball, they aim to take it out of the back of the end zone or over the front line.
Progress the session further by setting up a pitch with goals at either end. Have a 5v5 in the middle with six neutral players outside the pitch. Scoring a regular goal is worth one point. If the ball is regained and a goal is scored within four seconds, it is worth five points.

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Tactics board

Looking for a bit more detail? Check out Nimesh's tactics board video for this session.

Coaching tips

Get your players to think about how they can use their upper bodies. How can they position themselves to apply pressure before making a tackle?

In the first progression, once the attacker has either got to the end zone or lost the ball, have them move to the back of the line of the other area.

Try to place your players in specific areas depending on where they play. If your players operate in a shorter, wider area, try that pitch. If they play in a longer, narrower pitch area, give them more practice there. For example, the longer, narrow area could replicate the defensive area for players in full-back positions.

The first progression can be continued by having the attacker start in the area. They then have the ball played into them with their back to the end zone. The position that the ball is played in can also vary to wide areas to replicate in-game scenarios.