In this coaching course filmed exclusively for CV Academy, Middlesbrough Under-15 and Under-16 lead coach Aaron Croft takes a group of youth development phase players through a series of practices designed to develop their attacking play and finishing.

The session starts with a semi-opposed pattern-of-play practice, in which players use wide combinations to work the ball into an area from which most assists come – termed ‘the red zone’ – and create dangerous crossing opportunities. This progresses into a positional small-sided game, and then ultimately a conditioned 10v10 game, in which the principles coached in the first practice are further developed in more opposed and then game-realistic situations.

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

We hope you enjoy it! Please also click below to download the accompanying session plan in PDF form.