Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): 4231 defending shape principles

SSG

Defending Principles

Protect The Middle / Force Wide / Defend the Cross / Body On Line / Protect space between units / Prevent Split passes (members of a unit closer together).

Organisation

Area size of 40 by 40.

Blues (In Possession) set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation (with full backs not involved).

Reds (Out of Possession) set up in a 4-3-3 formation (with wide forward players not involved).

Sets of Balls in either Goals, ready to resume play.

Poles either side of pitch indicating Defensive Line starting position for out of possession team.

9vs9

Targets

For Blues to create chances in the final third through Width & Depth and Zone 14, using good combinations, quick movement of the ball, off the ball movement and quality of pass.

For the Reds to nullify these threats and stop the Blues creating chances by protecting the middle, forcing play wide and stopping crosses.

Conditions

Reds must restart every wave by assuming their defensive line (indicated by Poles).

GKs must pass ball rather than go route one.

Reds have 10 seconds to get the ball forward to the no.9

Challenges

Can we defend an overload in wide areas?

- What if Blues' no.10 and one Deep Lying Midfielder stretch the pitch by moving wide to join the winger, creating a 3 vs 1 in wide areas. Wide Midfielder presses the ball, whilst Full Back moves out to cover widest player, (Goal side, showing them down the wing and away from goal). Ball side Centre Half moves to edge of 18yard box to cover Blues no.10, whilst Central Midfielder drops to cover space in between Centre Backs (in line with 18 yard box) and the other Centre Back moves across, in line with the penalty spot, ensuring that the ball into the Striker is cut off. Full back and furthest Wide Midfielder move across in line with their units and in line with the edge of the 6 yard box. Minimising space between units. If the ball comes back out and the Blues attempt a switch, the same movement applies to the other wing.

Can we defend a ball over the top?

- What if the Blues look to break lines by playing the ball over the top? Defensive Unit drops to just above the penalty spot (with full backs the width of the 18yard box). Midfield unit drops to the edge of the 18yard box, with wide midfielders tucked in to just inside the width of the 18yard box, ensuring the Blues' No.10 is covered, whilst the Centre Backs ensure there is little room between them (both just inside the width of the 6yard box). Full backs able to pick up clearances wide by being wide.

Defending from the front

- 5vs1 - What's the trigger for the Striker to press the ball? Goalkeeper plays the ball into one of the Centre Backs. As soon as the ball is played to the Centre Back this acts as the trigger for the Striker to press the ball. If the ball is then played to the opposite Centre Back, the Striker stays with the other Centre Back (recover). Reds' ball side wide midfielder presses the ball, showing the ball down the line (on the outside). The ball-side Full Back moves to get close to the Winger, whilst the Red ball-side Centre Back moves in line with the edge of the six yard box, in line with the other Centre Back, who moves across to to be in line with the penalty spot. The Central Midfielder drops inbetween the Centre Backs (just outside the D), far side Full-Back tucks in (in line with 6 yard box), whilst far sided wide Midfielder occupies space in between the Centre Half and Full Back (in line with Central Midfielder).