Why This Wilfried Nancy Session Changed How I See Progressions

At the recent Aspire Academy event, one session in particular stood out above the rest — a training exercise led by Wilfried Nancy. Over the years, we’ve shared countless sessions, breakdowns, and exercises through Modern Soccer Coach, but this one may be our favorite ever. Why? Because it struck the perfect balance between build-up and attack, two elements that are often separated in modern training design. Most of the time, you’ll see one labeled a “build-up session” and another a “finishing session.” Nancy blended both — and did so seamlessly.

The second reason this session stood out was the quality of the progressions. Coaches are taught to progress sessions in education courses, but few manage to do it in a way that still looks and feels like the game. Too often, progressions simply make exercises smaller or more restrictive. Nancy did the opposite: his progressions added challenge and complexity while maintaining the realism and freedom of football itself.

You can watch the full breakdown below. Please 'like' and subscribe if you enjoy it!

The Setup: 8v8 + 2 With Multiple Goals

The session began with an 8v8 + 2 structure. The red team built from the back with a goalkeeper, using the two neutrals to create overloads. Their objective was to score in any of four mini-goals placed at the edge of the penalty area.

If the blue team regained possession, they could transition or recirculate with the help of the same overload. The tempo was high — quick ball movement, continuous transitions, and constant decision-making.

Nancy’s coaching role was fascinating: he restarted the game in different ways — sometimes dropping the ball, sometimes playing directly to a team — to keep the rhythm fast and unpredictable. Every restart maintained intensity and created realistic transitional moments.

Progression 1: Shifting the Goals, Shifting the Challenge

The first progression was subtle yet brilliant. Nancy moved the two wide mini-goals inward, angling them toward the central areas. This small tweak completely changed the dynamics.

The field expanded slightly, encouraging players to find inside pockets and half-spaces, not just wide lanes. It transformed a typical “four-goal” game into something that demanded better awareness of passing into players rather than spaces, and sharper support angles.

Despite the change, the game’s rhythm stayed the same — high intensity, constant transition, and a need for quick recognition of attacking opportunities. The overload was harder to find, forcing players to adapt and create solutions under pressure.

Progression 2: Adding the Finishing Phase

Nancy’s final progression elevated the exercise even further.He introduced a full-size goal for the attacking team and slightly advanced the two central mini-goals. Now, the red team could choose to play into those half-spaces for a point — or go for goal.

This change layered in a finishing component, aligning the buildup work with a real attacking objective. The focus shifted toward advanced movement ahead of the ball — a complex behavior that’s difficult to reproduce in traditional drills.

The Transition Challenge

Nancy didn’t stop there. When the blue team won possession, they now had to play through two poles at the opposite end — but only if:

1. A player broke ahead of the poles, and

2. A supporting player underneath was available to receive the pass.

That meant transition wasn’t just about the first forward run — it was about coordinated support and recirculation afterward. This design required lines to push up together, mirroring real counter-attacking dynamics.

It was a beautiful example of how defending and attacking challenges can coexist in one exercise. The attacking team faced tight spaces and timing demands; the defending team faced constant reorganizations and recirculation pressure.

Coaching Flow and Communication

Throughout, Nancy coached with a ball in his hand and one at his feet — always ready to restart or demonstrate. His stoppages were short (30–45 seconds), enough to highlight a detail without losing the session’s tempo. The field layout evolved with each progression, but the core game principles stayed intact: possession, transition, and finishing. Each layer tested decision-making, positioning, and team cohesion in a realistic environment.