Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): Defending in high zone 3 and zone 4. Focus on Central Midfielders

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THEME:  Delay, Depth and Cover, Balancing,compactness, Control and restraint.

MOMENT OF THE GAME: Opponents in possession

PHASE OF THE GAME: Defending

TOPIC: Defending in Zones 3 and 4

WARMUP (15 Minutes):

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Organization: 

24 players broken into 3 groups of 8. Each group has 5 attacking players along the lines of a 20 foot equidistant hexagon, and 3 defending players inside the play area.  

Conditions:  

Attacking players can pass left, right, or through the hexagon, and can move along the outside of the hexagonal area including the open side. . Any attacker on the outside can start the sequence. The 3 defensive players in the hexagon attempt utilize pressure, cover, balance/block.. As one defender presses/delays,another provides cover, and the last defender provides support as needed.  After the pass is made, the defender closest to where the ball went becomes responsible for press/delay, and the others move into cover and support positions.. If the ball is intercepted by the defenders, or an errant pass is made,one defender switches with the attacker who made the last pass andthe sequence starts again.

Variations:   

None

KEYFACTORS: 

Technical:

How do we set our bodies to force play to the wings?

Tactical:

Where do we use pressure/support, covering / blocking?

18 disc markers, 9 yellow and 15 red pinnies, balls located around each play area

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Part: 

**This session can be used for both the Left and Right Centre Holding Midfield as I expect rotation of the roles based on which grouping is primarily involved, and which is supporting in a secondary or tertiary role.**

INSTRUCTIONS:

ORGANIZATION:

9 players on the defending team,  7 players and 2 keepers on the attacking team. ½ field with one regular net at the touch line of zone 4, and 3 small nets (1 placed placed on the touch line of the central channel, and 2 at a 45 degree angles  at the top of zone 3.  4 defenders vs 3 attackers + keeper to start. The left and right flanks and central channel are marked out.  Additional defensive players are outside of the zone 3 endline, attackers outside of the zone 4 endline.  Balls placed behind the zone 3 end line.

GOAL: 

The defensive team (Forward=1, centre mid=2, Left Inside Midfield=3, Right Inside Midfield=4) attempts to high pressure/cover attacking players in the zone 4 central areas with the intention to block dispossess, transition, and progress to the regular goal.   

CONDITIONS:  Defending midfields and Forwards are in zone 3 to start.  The attacking players and keeper start in zone 4.  Play begins when a defensive player, not in play, sends the ball deep into the zone 4 central channel for an attacker or keeper to receive and attempt to centrally progress up the field. Play must remain confined to the central channel until the attacking team moves past the zone 3 line, (Note that the net positions will create more play in the central channel regardless) As soon as the ball is sent in, the defensive group can enter zone 4 and set up employ stated goals to prevent progression, dispossess the attackers and score on the large net, which is 2 points.  If the offense scores into any of the small nets it is one point.

VARIABLES: 

4v4 (1 more attacker), 5v4 (1 more defender), 5v5 (1 more attacker),  Players allow for subs on reset if the ball goes out of play, or a goal is scored.

KEY FACTORS FOR APPLICATION:

Pressure/support, covering / screening

focus on making play occur in central areas.

What roles will the mids take on (attacking/holding) out of possession/in possession, and given ball position on the field of play?  

EQUIPMENT:

11 red cones. 6 discs, 3 small nets, 1 regular net, 12 or more balls

9 red pinnies for defense, 7 blue for offense, 1 green and one yellow pinnie for keepers.

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PART: 25 Minutes

Delay, Depth and Cover, Balancing, compactness, Control and restraint.

Opponents in possession

Defending

 Defending in Zones 2 and 3

ORGANIZATION:

12 players on the defending team,  12 players on the attacking team (blue)  Use entire field space with one small small net at a 45 degree angle on each endline flank ( 4 total) run the activity widthwise.  Balls placed behind the zone 3 end line.  Field is set up with 4 channels and 2 zones.

CONDITIONS:

A defensive team player on the left flank sends the ball deep to an attacker on the right flank of zone 3.  when the ball is sent, a defender on the right flank runs to the ball recipient and is joined by a defender from the left central channel to set up a pressure/cover scenario.  On reception of the ball by the receiving attacker, an additional attacker joins the play from the right flank, and a 3rd attacker joins the play by running into the right central channel of zone 2.  The attacker in zone 2 will be met by a defender on the left central channel, and another defender from the left flank. There should be at least 2 opportunities for the defense to set up a pressure/cover presence.  If the ball goes out of play, the play restarts on the opposite flank and new players enter the field.  If a goal is scored in any of the nets, it is 1 point and play is reset to 1 of the flanks.

VARIABLES: 

4v4 (1 more attacker), 5v4 (1 more defender), 5v5 (1 more attacker).

KEY FACTORS FOR APPLICATION:

Technical:

How do we set our bodies to force play to the wings?

Tactical:

Where do we use pressure/support, covering / blocking?

EQUIPMENT:

11 red cones. 6 discs, 3 small nets, 1 regular net, 12 or more balls

9 red pinnies for defense, 7 blue for offense, 1 green and one yellow pinnie for keepers.