GLOBAL PREMIER
SOCCER
GPS Coach Library
Playing in the Final Third- Combinations of Play
GPS CURRICULUM METHODOLOGY
U4 - U8
JUNIORS
U9-U12
JUNIOR PREMIER
U13-U18
PREMIER
18+
PREMIER
Player Evaluation & Assessment
FUN-DAMENTAL
PRACTICE TO
DEVELOP
PRACTICE TO
COMPETE
PRACTICE TO
WIN
AIM:
To allow players of all ages and abilities, to develop to their full potential, in an ENJOYABLE, CHALLENGING and POSITIVE environment.
OBJECTIVES:
• Create a clear and simple pathway for player development.
•
Always keep the player at the centre of the development process.
•
Allow players as much active time with a ball each as possible. •
•
Teach the principles of the game.
Teach “roles” not “positions”.
Acknowledge that players will learn and develop at different speeds.
•
To keep a fresh and current outlook on the changes in young player development.
•
Create a deep and underlying passion for the sport of soccer at all ages.
•
SCORE METHODOLOGY
GPS recommends that all practice sessions follow the S.C.O.R.E. method:
SIMPLE. Stick to one theme during your practice session. Choose 2 or 3 core coaching points and reinforce them throughout the session.
CHALLENGING. Ensure that the players are posed problems that they need to find solutions to. Provide guidance and help when they
need it.
ORGANISED. Plan every detail of your session - how many players, space and equipment. Ensure that your sessions have the
appropriate pace and progression to challenge all of your players.
RELEVANT. Ensure that the exercises in your session are relevant to the game.
ENJOYABLE. The players should walk away from every practice having thoroughly enjoyed the session and learning at least one new aspect of the game.
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Playing in the Final Third- Phases of Play
The phase/combinations begins from the full-back/server. It is important that players try to make it as realistic as possible with appropriate movement, scanning and awareness around them, quality of pass, cross and finish and performing the phase at a high tempo. Players will work with their colour only- full-back, centre mid, wide forward and one
centre-forward. If you have larger numbers then a defensive midfielder (no6) and a wide forward on the weak side can 1
be added.
When the full-back starts, irrelevant of were the first pass is going to for the phase, all players should give an option for
him, firstly by checking away to create space and then dropping short to offer the option to play into feet. Ensure that
the players body shape is correct when receiving, depending on the type of pass either with a closed body to shield the
ball from the ‘defender’ (use cones as defenders). Players should always try to receive on the move so that they are not
receiving static and therefore easily marked by the defender.
Final third movement- When the ball is in a wide area
Before the cross is delivered it is important that the centre midfielders, centre forwards and wide forwards time their
movement into the box. The cross balls when possible should be delivered low, into the space, allowing the forwards
and midfielders to attack the ball and get in front of the defenders. If the runs are made too early the players become
static making it easy for the defenders to mark them.
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The centre forward should make his first movement away from the wide forward before attacking the near post. The
wide forward on the weak side to attack the back post. The centre midfielder (if only one used in phase) should give the
option at the top of the box.
If you use two centre midfielders (8+10) then one should attack the centre of the box, but ensuring depth from the
centre forward and the other centre midfielder the option to cut the cross back to the top of the box.
Combinations of Play- Triangular Play and 1-2
Triangular Play (left side) + Wide forward 1-2 (right side)
Field Size
Half field with net and goalkeeper
1
Set up
Left side- full-back to centre midfielder, to wide forward to centre forward. Centre forward lays off to the centre midfielder who plays through ball wide for the
wide forward to run onto and deliever cross ball.
Right side- Full-back to centre midfielder, to wide forward. Wide forward then plays 1-2 off centre forward before crossing.
Combinations of Play- Switch of Play
Switch of play- Variations
Field Size
Half field with net and goalkeeper
1
Set up
From left back- fullback to centre midfielder who should receive side on with open body shape and play up to centre-forward. The centre forward
should drop to create space and play the ball in between the two centre backs for the wide forward to make the diagonal run and finish on goal.
From right back- fullback to centre forward, layoff to centre midfielder and switch wide for wide forward on left. The centre forward should then time
run to attack the front post, wide forward back post and centre midfielder top of box.
Combinations of Play- Full-Back Overlap
Full Back Overlapping Runs
Field Size
Half field with net and goalkeeper
Set up
1
Left side- FB to CM to WF. The wide forward must dribble inside to create space for the overlapping run. WF can play the full-back in directly. If the opposition fullback is tight to the winger then the angle is cut out to play directly to the overlap. When this occurs the winger should use the CF to create the angle and the pass
into space.
Right side- FB to WF- wide forward dribbles inside to create space and plays the pass into space for the full-back to run onto.
Combinations of Play- Centre Midfielder Overlap
Centre Midfielder Overlapping Runs
Field Size
Half field with net and goalkeeper
1
Set up
Full-back to centre midfielder who plays wide to the wide forward and makes run around him. Wide forward dribbles inside to create the space and
again can either play the run directly or play into the CF and then wide.
Combinations of Play- Centre midfield run beyond centre forward
Centre Midfielder run beyond centre forward
When playing with one centre forward it is important that when their run is short that one of the centre midfielders becomes the outlet and makes a
positive run forward beyond the centre forward. This creates an option to play a through ball behind the back four or to play up to their feet. 1
Field Size
Half field with net and goalkeeper
Set up
Full-back to defensive midfielder who plays to centre midfielder and then wide. Centre forward offers short option and far centre midfielder makes
pentrating run behind to receive through ball.
Combinations of Play- Front Three Interchange
When playing vs a compact defensive line, interchanging movement may give you an opportunity to lose your
marker and create space to receive or for another player
to exploit. When a player makes a movement into your
area you should offer an alternative option or replacing
where they moved from.
Field Size
Half field with net and goalkeeper
Set up
Full-back to centre foward who lays off to centre midfielder. As the centre forward lays the ball off he spins off and
runs wide into the channel and the wide forward makes
the diagonal run inside. The centre midfielder can then
play either option.
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Combinations of Play- Fullback forward run
Field Size
Half field with net and goalkeeper
1
Set up
Play starts from the full-back to the centre forward, who lays it off for the centre midfielder. As the ball is travelling back to the centre midfielder the
winger makes a diagonal run inside and the full-back makes the forward run into the space created.
In the game situation the diagonal run from the winger forces the opposition full-back to make a decision. If the defender goes with the run of the
winger then our full-back will be free to receive the ball from the centre midfielder in the final third.
Combinations of Play- Wide Forward Diagonal Run
Field Size
Half field with net and goalkeeper
1
Set up
Play starts from the full-back to the centre forward, who lays it off for the centre midfielder. As the ball is travelling back to the centre midfielder the
winger makes a diagonal run inside and the full-back makes the forward run into the space created. Centre midfielder plays the pass into space for
the winger to run onto and finish on goal.
In the game situation the diagonal run from the winger forces the opposition full-back to make a decision. If the defender goes with the run of the
winger then our full-back will be free to receive the ball from the centre midfielder in the final third.
If the opposition full-back does not go with the winger’s diagonal run then he may be free to receive the through ball directly from the centre midfielder with the run in behind the centre back.