Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defensive Transition - Recovering to defend (Start Time: 2021-09-30 17:00:00)

Recovery to Defend Practise (20 mins)

Key Factors 

Limit moment of transition

• Encourage defenders to react immediately to the trigger, reverting from attack to defence immediately.
• The centre back and a holding midfielder should provide cover for the fullbacks, as soon as the fullback activates the trigger

Maintain realism (Unopposed possession)

Challenge the defensive team to maintain high standards in possession to ensure realism, Centre backs should split for the initial unopposed possession phase

As the fullback goes forward to trigger the defensive action, The centre backs must slide over to cover the space in behind, as would be required of them in a match situation

Organisation

• This position specific possession game sees the defending team (A) set up with a goalkeeper, A back of four and a holding midfielder. The attacking team (B) has one central midfield player and three forward players.
• The exercise starts with the GK, Who plays into one of his centre backs. They can play unopposed into the midfield player and finally into to one of the fullbacks. The fullback who receives the ball must dribble with speed over the line and play the ball into the small goal. Upon doing this, TEAM A are awarded one point.
• As soon as the full back dribbles over the line, this is the trigger for the opposing midfielder to play a pass into the space behind him to begin the counter-attack
• TEAM B now attack TEAM A, who attempt to recover quickly into their defensive shape.
• TEAM B are awarded two points if they score.
• The players reset to their starting positions once the counter attack is over.