Football Training Sessions > Sweeper Breakout

Focus

Skills under pressure, Decision Making, Forward line delivery.

Skills

Handballing, Kick Short, Tackle.

Purpose

Players learn to work their way out of traffic through the assistance of a sweeper. This sweeper plays a dual role as both attacker and defensive player filling the hole.

Groups of

Ages

13⁺

Balls/grp

Cones

Distance (max)

70m

Opp. tops

Visible opposition strip: 5

Setup
Divide players into teams of 5. If you have a full-ground and 20 players, have 5 v 5 at each end. Three players from each team start inside a 10x10m square. One sweeper from each team starts on the defensive side (A), one forward from each team stands 30m away (B).
Step 1
Start with players inside the square handballing and rolling the ball amongst one another (both teams).
Step 2
On the whistle, the team with possession becomes the attacking team. Their aim is to get the ball to their forward (B).
Step 3
The attacking team can use their sweeper (A), however this player is not allowed inside the square. The defending team attempt to effect a turnover (tackling optional).
Step 4
The sweeper from the opposition can either assist their teammates up the field, or drop back into the hole and defend the forward.
Step 5
Players must kick to (B). (B) attempts a shot on goal while players reset.

If there are extra players you make wish to make these the leading forwards who rotate.

Also rotate the sweeper with a player inside the square.
Step 6
Optionally keep score of successful passes (1 point) and goals (1 point), or just score goals. After a few minutes, if you have games going at both ends, swap so the winners play one another.