This week I was given the challenge of introducing the concept of offside to an under 10 team. This season they have been playing 7v7, next season they will play 11v11. There will be many changes in the format of football they will be playing, offside will of course play a major factor.
The purpose of this practice was to achieve a basic understanding of the offside rule, and be aware of what it means? Why its important? How to defend? How to attack?
CLASSROOM
To start the session we sat down as a group and talked about football formations, the kids knew that teams play many different formations. Using a whiteboard the kids showed me what the formations looked like, we focused on 4-4-2 and 4-3-3. We then went through their favourite teams: Manchester United, Barca, Chelsea.
Here is where their understanding really showed, I asked questions like; Who is the centre back for Man U? Who plays upfront for Chelsea? Some could name you Barca’s starting XI, others didn’t know too much. The visual aid of the white board, let them understand what is a 4-4-2 and who plays where. It is important for the kids to take the pen, as it engages them in the learning, rather than me talking and them listening. This will also help some players understand the topic better.
Once this was established we talked about offside. Using the whiteboard I showed them what was offside and what was onside. We then posed a few scenarios and asked; Is he onside?
PRACTICAL
SET UP
Here is the set up, with out players. The are 3 starting points; 2 blue for wide players, 1 orange for strikers. There are also 3 mannequins, 2 represent full backs and 1 in goal.
Here is the set up with players. The coach (WHITE) has footballs to serve to the wide players (YELLOW), who will deliver the ball to strikers (RED).
1. Ball is served wide by the coach
2. Wide player (YELLOW) times the run to stay on side
3. Strikers (RED) attack the penalty area
4. Ball is crossed, strikers select appropriate finish (SEE COACHING POINTS)
Here the wide player is anticipating the pass from the server, he starts his run, he must stay level with the mannequins (offside line). The attackers have also anticipated the play, but must not run to early.
Here shows the runs of the attackers. They must decide which areas of the area to attack, in this diagram they have crossed over to confuse the defenders, one attacks the front post and one attacks the back. (SEE COACHING POINTS)
The players must be taught the pattern of; SPACE AVAILABLE – BALL DELIVERED – PLAYER ARRIVES the players will struggle to finish if they are standing waiting for the delivery. Chances are they will be offside too!!
ADD OPPOSITION
Here we add 2 centre backs (WHITE), we have also added an additional attacker (RED) to achieve s
uccess. This now challenges the players to defend, using the offside rule, and the attackers to work the ball wide and finish.
COACHING POINTS
- Time the run, allow the wide player to creep forward and look along the line
- Type of delivery – Whipped, driven, punched, height?
- SPACE AVAILABLE – BALL DELIVERED – PLAYER ARRIVES
- Type of finish – Which part of the body? Does the ball need to be hit or helped into the goal
- Movement – moving away from goal, moving across the goal, moving towards the goal, stationary (difficulty level?)
- Finishing: Attitude – be positive, Accuracy v Power?, Hit the corners, Anticipate rebounds and partner missing the cross
Tagged as:
football,
girls,
soccer
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