In this coaching course filmed exclusively for CV Academy, Southampton youth development phase coach Graham Mills takes a group of players through a series of practices designed to develop their ability to both attack and defend in wide areas.

The session, which Mills takes alongside fellow coach Sam Waters and strength and conditioning coach Tom John, starts with an extended warm-up that trains some of the movements and techniques involved in the wider session before progressing into a series of 1v1, 2v1 and 2v2 situations. The second practice is a themed possession game in which constraints work to encourage switches of play and attacking in wide areas. The final phase-of-play encourages the use of players in the half-spaces to create wide overloads and crossing opportunities.

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