The following is the beginning of Soccer Awareness eBook 31: Developing the Four Phases of the Game.

The game is really all about 4 Phases of Play. It can be divided up further into sub phases but the essence of the game are these 4. This eBook is what one of my main training sessions is based on. We actually train very often with this precise game situational model as it totally mirrors what I expect my team to do in the actual games.  In doing so, we practice the same ideas over and over until they become AUTOMATIC when it matters.

The attacking team has the ball. This is the start position of the game situation.

The idea is to have this phase, being the attacking one, and working on various ideas of movement, rotation and interchange to try to score.

You can focus on this until success is achieved from an attacking point of view.

The starting point of the session: attacking team shape in a “Phase of Play”

Starting position of the attacking team. We can begin with an overload to get things moving positively in an attacking sense by not including (7) and (11) on the defending team. 16 players.

Attacking team shape in a Phase of Play: Using the full width of the field

To begin, our advantage is in wide areas where we have 2 v 1s on each side of the field. Draw defending fullbacks a Little wider in the process.

Wide attackers (7) and (11) cut inside to attack the inside áreas of the field

(7) And (11) cut inside to support (9) and draw defenders in to créate space wide for (2) and (3) to attack in.

(8) and (10) pull away from their markers to get free. Here we must attack through the wide areas of the field.

Defending fullbacks stay wide

Defenders (2) and (3) are distracted by the runs of the attacking (2) and (3). Now (7) and (11) overload the central área in front of the two center backs. This is the área we must attack now.

Attacking wingbacks cut inside

Defenders (2) and (3) are distracted by the runs of the attacking (7) and (1). Now (2) and (3) overload the central área in front of the two center backs. This is the área we must attack now, this is a less predictable movement by the attacking team.

Movement OFF the shoulder of defender (4)

Striker (9) moves off the shoulder of defender (4) in the build up to get free for a pass into the open channel from (3).

Attacking wingback (2) cuts inside to score

(9) Drags defender (4) short thinking he is receiving to feet and (2) exploits the space left in behind defender (4). This kind of move is a rarity because not many teams teach wingbacks to get into central shooting areas like this.

Get the rest of this session and more like it in Soccer Awareness eBook 31: Developing the Four Phases of the Game