Athens Build, Create & Finish SSG

Instructions/Setup:

This small sided game is designed to improve build-up play, chance creation, and clinical finishing. The field is divided into three vertical zones: a build-up zone, a central creation zone, and a finishing zone. Both teams are overloaded in their respective build-up zones, creating numerical superiority to encourage composed progression from the back.

Play begins in the build-up zone, where teams aim to advance the ball into the central creation zone. Once in this zone, teams can either play directly into the finishing zone or use one of the two wide players, who are locked into channels on either side, to deliver a cross or stretch the play.

Players from the central creation zone are allowed to advance into the finishing zone to create a 3v3 situation and increase goal-scoring opportunities.

Coaching Notes:

• Build-Up Patience: Encourage calm and controlled play in the build-up zone, utilizing the numerical advantage to draw out opponents and find gaps.

• Wide Option Utilization: Players should be alert to the use of wide players, recognizing moments to stretch the defense or create cutback/crossing chances.

• Timing of Runs: Attackers entering the finishing zone must time their runs well to meet crosses or exploit gaps in the defensive line.

• Switch of Play: Teach players to recognize when a direct central pass is blocked and encourage quick switches to wide areas to open up new angles.

• Third-Man Movement: Reinforce intelligent off-the-ball movement from central players to support attacks and exploit overloads in the final third.

Progression 1: Add Recovery Defenders:

Allow one defender from the build-up zone and one from the central zone to recover and help in the finishing zone once the ball progresses.

Focus: Develops transitional defending and challenges the attacking team to score in more realistic, crowded scenarios.