CONTROL SHOOTING PASSING DRIBBLING TURNING HEADING CREATE SPACE INDIVIDUAL DEFENDING SUPPORT PLAY GOALKEEPING CROSSING TACKLING THE THROW IN ATTACKING SET PLAYS DEFENDING SET PLAYS THE FREE KICK

CREATING SPACE

Please select a subsection from the topics below :

A basic introduction   Cross over runs  The Overlap   Creating Space 1 and 2    Creating Space 3    Creating Space 4    Creating Space 5    Creating Space 6    Creating Space 7   Creating Space 8   Creating Space 9   Creating Space for Junior Players    Creating Space for Junior Players 2

CREATING SPACE 7

Arena – 40 metres x 30 metres, 1 football, 4 players on each side trying to run over the end line (A and B) IN TOTAL POSSESSION/CONTROL OF THE BALL.

Practice

2 short passes MUST be followed by a long pass – if not the ball is given to the opposing team who start in possession on their own end line.

In the diagram (X2) passes to (X1), gets a return pass then must look long so (X4) and (X3) go on forward runs from their starting positions at (P1) and (P2) to give (X2) a chance of passing to them.  Clearly then (X1) and (X2) will need to readjust their positions according to the outcome.

With green team trying to win the ball this is a physically demanding practice as well as a technical one, but it encourages movement and the search for space on the field.  COACHES CAN WORK ON (a) SIZE OF AREA (b) LENGTH OF PRACTICE according to the age and ability of the players involved.

Coaches must insist on two short passes followed by a long pass. Failure to do this means the ball being handed to the opposing side. Coaches decide on what distance constitutes a long pass.