In this coaching course filmed exclusively for CV Academy, Middlesbrough Under-9 and Under-10 lead coach Daniel Woolston takes a group of foundation-phase players through a series of practices designed to develop their attacking play and finishing.

The session starts with an American football-inspired warm-up that introduces the principle of attackers finding space away from their defenders. This same theme is taken into a 3v3 attacking wave game that Woolston takes alongside Under-11 and Under-12 lead coach Jon Collinson. The final practice is a 6v5 small-sided game in which the attacking team is encouraged to use their extra player to create wide overloads and cross or cut-back opportunities into a central ‘gold zone’.

The session offers a great insight into the way the Middlesbrough Academy structures its coaching for the younger age group. It is the first of three full sessions filmed for CV Academy; youth development and professional development phase courses will follow.

We hope you enjoy it! Please also click on the Resources tab to access the accompanying session plan in PDF form.