Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): Back Four Defending (Start Time: 2015-02-24 18:05:00)

Defending: 1v1 (15 mins)

Set Up:

- x4 1v1 areas infront of box to make game like to position

- Use current back four as defenders

- All attacking players with ball to ensure flow

Play:

- ATT plays to DEF who bounces ball back to begin 1v1.

- ATT must try beat DEF in area and get into the box

- DEF must try to win ball and clear area.

Coaching Points:

Full Backs:

- Encourage DEF to close area as quickly as possible

- Arc run to force ATT out wide, closing opportunity for player to drive inside

- Slow run as approaching ATT to prepare for 1v1

- Player on balls of feet to allow DEF to turn and move quickly

- Encourage player to win ball on bad touch or other opporunity if possible

Centre Back:

- Encourage DEF to close area as quickly as possible

- Arc run to force ATT out to full back, closing opportunity for player to drive inside or force player backwards, delaying game allowing own team to recover.

- Slow run as approaching ATT to prepare for 1v1

- Player on balls of feet to allow DEF to turn and move quickly

- Encourage player to win ball on bad touch or other opporunity if possible

- If CB can identify ATT weak foot, encourage them to show player that side. Encourage this, because if player is right footed and is shown this way, they may create a yard of space and get shot away resulting in a goal. Less-likely with weaker foot.

Defending: 4v4 (15 mins)

Set Up:

- 4v4 areas infront of box to make game like to position

- Use current back four as defenders

- All attacking players with ball to ensure flow

Play:

- ATT plays to DEF who bounces ball back to begin 1v1.

- ATT must try beat DEF in area and get into the box

- DEF must try to win ball and clear area.

Coaching Points:

Right Full Back:

- Apply pressure quickly, arcing run showing the player wide

- Steady run close to player to allow space for manouvre

- On balls of feet to react quickly to change

- If ball is played central, RB tucks in to create back 3 with LCB and LB

RCB:

- Provide depth and cover

- Deeper from RB and more central, preventing space centrally and through the defence

- Applies pressure to ball if played central, allowing other players to react

LCB:

- Deepest player of back four when ball is on right side, so this player dictates line

- Provides depth and cover central

- If ball is played central, this player becomes centre of back 3 with RB and LB, preventing space through the centre of the team forcing the ball wide

LB:

- Tuck in to provide cover centrally, flooding central area closing gaps and forcing ball wide.

- If ball is played central, LB tucks in to create back 3 with RB, LCB and LB

Opposite rolls if ball is other side.

IMPORTANT: Both DEF communicate letting each other know if ATT crossing over to switch men, Do Not allow DEF to cross over.