Our visual scenario concepts may help your players engage in thoughtful discussion-based learning.
​Potentially enhancing their cognitive understanding & decision making within game-relative situations. 
​
We encourage coaches to allow players to discuss these scenario themes in plenty of detail. Giving the players the tools to share their ideas and reasoning of what they see can be an insightful part of their cognitive development.

KEY
*Click on individual images to expand*
Dashed Arrows  = Player Movement
Direct Arrows = Pass or Ball Movement

We utilize a simple document to help guide our players' learning and discovery throughout each scenario

pLAYERS - doWNLOAD jOURNAL HERE -->

Player Scenario Journal
File Size:	180 kb
File Type:	docx

Download File

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Playing out of the back.... 
Consider the images presented, what appears the best option(s) for the #5 to play out positively? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning. Consider noting that the Yellow arrows show proposed movement of teammates in relation to the ball.

The GK is rolling out a ball to the #5.. The arrows show potential movement of BLUE teammates as they look to build out of the back.. Where would you play the 1st and 2nd pass, and Why?

Penetrating the final third..
Consider the images presented, which color appears the best option? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

Red - Play forward into the 9's feet - while teammates move higher to support the build up.
Aqua - Spread play and open the field by finding the 7 in space breaking forward
​Pink - Finding the teammate running on the inside angle, potentially creating a dangerous situation centrally
White - The more ambitious ball, floated over the top seeking the 11 on the left side

Transitioning from the back after regaining possession.. 
Consider the images presented, which color appears the best option? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.​

Aqua - Finding the 5's feet in space to turn positively and scope the field under low pressure.
Red - Longer distribution from the GK, driven into Attacking Midfielder who has found a pocket of space to receive
Yellow - The ball over the top and wide to the left side for the 3 to potentially break forward down the flank
White - Similar as Yellow, only this time, wide to the 2 on the right-side.. Which full back is the better option?

Skipping the challenge to break the defensive line..
 Consider the images presented, which color appears the best option? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

BlueBlack - square cut-pass into the 8's path who can either dribble, or play early into 7, who is overlapping..
Yellow - playing a through ball between players into the 7's path..
AquaBlack - The 11 gets on the inside shoulder to receive to dribble, or combine quickly via the 9's 3rd man run.
Red - Engage the opposition CB and slip the 9 in-behind 

Runners off the ball.. The 10 is playing into the 9... What does the 9 consider as the next best option? 
Consider the images presented, which color appears the best option? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

Yellow - A first time lay-off back into the 10's path - who just drifts to the right-central side of the attacking third.
Aqua - A similar lay-off but this time to the 8 who has
AquaRed - Ball is laid off, before a pass splitting the defensive line goes to the 11 who makes a sharp diagonal run inside.
YellowPink - Similar to AquaRed - Is this a better option that the left side? Why, or Why not?

Build up from the central middle third..
Consider the images presented, which color appears the best option? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

Dark Blue - Pass into the 10 who looks to hook the ball first-time into the 9 (who spins in-behind)
Pink - The 8 dribbles forward to attack space, with options presenting themselves around 25 yards from goal
Yellow - 8 sprays the ball wide to the right side. Opening up the field and igniting a wide attack
Aqua - Tough pass, but potentially a killer pass into the 7, in-behind the opposition left back
Navy - Another tricky ball, but could be very effective. Floated pass over the top of the defense into the 11

Winning the 1st ball, getting onto the second ball.. Countering directly.
Consider the images presented, which color & letter appears the best option? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

Black A - a first-time ball over the top for the on-rushing teammate
Yellow B - An immediate driven switch of play into the space ahead of the 7
Aqua C - Dribbling to penetrate space centrally, potentially creating a shot or pass closer to goal.

The 7 getting to the byline... 
Consider the images presented, which LETTER appears the best option? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

The 11 playing into the 9 (under pressure) with back to goal... 
Consider the images presented, which color appears the best option? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

Aqua - Ball dropped off into the 8, who has space ahead, with teammates moving either side.
Pink - Ball laid-back to the 6 who drives forward to receive 30 yards from goal..
Yellow - pink receives and plays an early splitting pass into the 7 out wide.
​White ​- Ball is hooked around the corner for the 11 to try get in-behind.

The 6 breaking pressure...
Consider the images presented, which NUMBER appears the best option? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

The decisive counter attack... 
Consider the images presented, which color and letter appears the best option? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

The first time service from wide... Driven ball or cut back?
Consider the images presented, which color and letter appears the best option? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.​

Yellow - Driven low ball across the 6 yard box
​Aqua - Cut back to the 10 who is sitting just outside the box
Pink - whip the ball back to the central area 25 yards out the 8 making a deeper, late run.
White - Float a ball high towards the back post for the on-rushing 11 to challenge for

Slipping the ball into the 9, do you..
Consider the images presented, which color and letter appears the best option? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.​
Yellow - Dribble to draw the GK out before cutting back to the PK spot.
Pink - Take a quick first touch and try finish near post.
Aqua - Attempt a back-heel into the on-rushing 10 for a central finish at the edge of the box.

The zonal concern against the counter attack... 
Consider the images presented, which color zone appears the most dangerous concern for the defensive team?
​ Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.​ 
Aqua - We have a diagonal runner coming on the blind side
Yellow - There is space to potentially enter on the dribble, + a forward nearby
Red - There's a 7 making a run on the inside shoulder of our 3

Igniting the counter in the middle third.. 
Consider the images presented, which color appears the best option? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.​

Blue - Play wide early into the supporting 3
White - Try and find 11 making the diagonal inside run
Yellow - Find the feet of the checking 9 
Aqua - Seek to play 10 over the top and in-behind
Green - Find the 7 on the inside angle in space to receive at their feet

Attacking down the left flank .. 
Consider the images presented, which colors appear the best option in build-up? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.
Blue-Black - A shorter pass into feet, laid back into an advancing run centrally
Blue-Pink- The shorter pass into 11, who then links with the overlapping 3 out wide
Blue-Yellow- Pass short to 11, then played in-between the lines for the 9 peeling off into the box

The 3 playing out of pressure.. 
Consider the images presented, which colors appear the best option in build-up? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.
Aqua - Find the 8 by playing diagonally inside into the space 8 can move positively into.
Yellow - Play into 11's feet with their back to goal, then underlap to possibly get the ball back.
​Purple - With 11 checking to the touchline, could you look longer & find 9 making the run across the line into the left channel?​

Countering the Corner

Consider the images presented, which colors appear the best option in build-up? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

Aqua - The GK overhand throws into the pocket of space for Aqua to receive and look to combine forwards
Yellow - The Gk distributes wide into open space for the 7 to break onto and look to counter quickly
Purple - The Gk punts long into the opponents half, looking for 9 to win the footrace 1 vs 1 against the opposing CB.

Building out from the cb

Consider the images presented, which colors appear the best option in build-up? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

Yellow - Try split the press and find #3 wide on the left side in space to drive forward and possibly combine with 11.
Red - Find the 6's feet as they check-in, allowing them to turn out and combine or maintain possession.
​Blue - Diagonal switch in the air looking to release #2 into space higher and wide. 
Aqua - Ambitious ball over the top of the opposition defenders to try release #7 in on goal.
​Orange - Find the feet of #10 who can turn and combine with the other attacking players in a 4 vs 4 situation.
​Purple - Straight ball driven forwards looking for #11 towards the left side of the final third.

The 8 looking to build the attack

Consider the images presented, which colors appear the best option in build-up? Why? Be prepared to explain your reasoning.
Purple - Switch the angle of attack to the right flank, releasing #2 into the final third in a wide position.
Yellow - Finding the #9's feet, potentially allowing 10 to run in-behind and combine with #9.
Blue - Lofting a pass over the RB into the #11 who is peeling around the back.
Aqua - Floating a pass over and into the #7 out wide, who has support coming from #2.