Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Defensive Organisation - Mid Block

Tactical Situation game (mid block) (25 mins)

This is a 9 v 8 practice, with the objective of improvingmiddle-block defending.

The attacking team in posession try to play through the opposing defence into their 7, 9 and 11 – who are positioned in a middle zone – with 3 touches maximum. Once the ball is played into the attacking 7, 9 or 11, only the opposing centre-backs (4 and 5) can defend them.

Before passing into the 7, 9 or 11, the attacking team must complete 3 passes in the first zone. The challenge
is to connect passes in each of the three vertical zones before moving forward. Once the attacking team plays into one of their three
forwards, it is a 3v2 attack against the opposing centrebacks for 8 seconds. The pass into the attacking 7, 9 or 11 must be below
knee-height.

After a goal, block, save or out-of-bounds, a new ball will begin with the attacking team. If the defending team recovers the ball in the first zone (6v5), then they try to score in one of the three small goals behind the attacking team.

The first zone is marked with three vertical zones; the target for the defending team is to shift across as a compact unit to ensure their block of 5 players are positioned across only two of the three vertical zones at any given time. The challenge for the 7 attacking players in the first zone is to provide maximum width and depth. The 10 should be positioned behind the defending team’s
midfield line (11, 8, 6 and 7) while the full-backs (2 and 3) should be positioned with heels on the touchline.

6v5 ZONE 

• Two forwards and four midfielders shift across the fieldto deny space between players.

• They should engage in collective pressing as the balltravels into the side lanes. 

• It will be important for all players to shift across atsimilar running pace to maintain close distances in thedefending block. 

• As the ball travels from centre-back to full-back, theforward on the ball-side must quickly drop to deny thepass into supporting midfielders. 

• If the team in possession can successfully rotatethe ball from one side to the other, the block mustsprint diagonally backwards to deny space andreorganise shape.

POSITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
• Forwards are responsible for pressing centre-backs and protecting space in front of the midfield line.
• Wingers are responsible for pressing full-backs diagonally to deny option of straight pass down the touchline to the 7 or 11, and staying connected to their central midfielders on the weak side.
• Central midfielders are responsible for providing coverage to their wingers as they press the full-backs, denying passing lines into 9 and 10, and stepping to defend the opposing central midfielder on the ball-side.
• Centre-backs should communicate with the block of six in front of them, helping them to identify appropriate marks and positioning to protect space.
• Centre-backs should also force their opponent wide in the 3v2 situation.