Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defending from the Front (Start Time: 2021-05-08 09:15:00)

Defending from the Front (20 mins)

Defending from the Front

PURPOSE OF SESSION:

An exercise with an emphasis on a front three pressuring the ball and stoppingforward passes 

INITIAL SET UP:

• Four defenders versus three attackers in each half.

• A halfway line divides the pitch with a 'V'-shaped zone towards the sidelines.
• Each team attacks and defends a small goal with gates either side.

• A back four from each team plays against a front three from each team. Both groups are confined to their half.
• The back four attempts to play passes into the front three to score a goal
• TRANSITION: Players who regain possession can either score in the small goal or dribble through the cone gates.

1. When in possession, members of the front three drop into the 'V' zone unopposed. The defending front three must stop passess going into these areas and also stop        passess into the central striker. 

2.  If the back four are frequently getting caught in possession ask the players to TRY to only take 2 or 3 touches. Using TRY allows some discretion on enforcement while   hopefully encouraging quicker ball movement. The attacking three can remain on unlimited touches because the attacking zone is where dribbling etc should happen.

CHALLENGES / QUESTIONS FOR PLAYERS:

• Can the front three defenders operate as a 'pack' with one player pressing the ball while the other two cut off escape routes. 
• Can the front three make the pitch as small as possibleby pressing to one side and closing down passing lanes forward into the attacking half or to other members of back four? 
• When the front three win the ball can they TRANSITION RAPIDLY and counter-attack while the back four is spread.?
• Can they make the playing area as LARGE as possible by quickly taking up attacking positions in space and making themselves available to receive the bal or by making forward runs. Coaches may consider limiting the time the front three have between winning the ball and scoring.    

SCORING:

A goal is scored by either scoring in the big goal or by dribbling through either of the side ates.

CAUTION:

Although the focus is on the front three players, ensure that all players defend appropriately.