Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending with a Back 4 - Communication & Leadership

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Ayodeji Ogunlade

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Name:	Ayodeji Ogunlade
City:	Hamilton, New Jersey
Country:	United States of America
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

1. Communication and leadership.

2. Use of one and two words command.

3. Principles of defending – Pressure, Cover and Balance.

4. Team shape and organization.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Introduction

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Introduction

Organisation:

Create 3 lines on the pitch, approximately 10 yards apart, with the final line only 5 yards from the half way line. Place back 4 on Line 2 to begin.

Aim:

Introduction to One Word Commands;

At intervals, Coach shouts out one of the one word command and players react accordingly:

Push UP 10 - Advance 10 yards

UP 5 - Players advance 5 yards

OUT 10 - Players sprint out 10 yards to the next line

HOLD - Players retain their positions

SLIDE LEFT - Players move left with furthest player in line with goal post

SLIDE Right - Players move right etc

DROP OFF - Players move backwards 10 yards

GET TIGHT - Players stay very close to opposition players

RECOVER - Players get back into their position

BLOCK - Players put in a challenge to sop the ball getting past them

I GO - Player moves towards opposition to close opposition down

RIGHT SHOULDER - Players look over their right shoulder to see unmarked player / players

MAN ON - Player has limited time on the ball as opposition player is clossoing him down.

PRESS - Player applies immediate pressure on the ball / opposition player

COVER - Player provide support behind a team mate that's applying pressure on the ball / opposition player

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Skill Practice 1

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Skill Practice 1

When to Drop.

Attackers have the ball - and are making deep penetrating runs in front of the ball - no (or very little) pressure on the ball. Back 4 should drop off as the attacker has freedom to pass forward and can read the timing of when and where to do it based on the back 4's position. UNLESS the back 4 are so compact and in tune that they can push up the moment before the ball is played - but this is very risky!

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Skill Practice 2

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Skill Practice 2

When to Hold the line or Push Up.

A. Attackers have the ball BUT good pressure being exerted by a teammate (even if their are penetrating runs) HOLD OR PUSH UP

B. Attacker has the ball BUT no teammate is pressing BUT no penetrating runs either HOLD OR PUSH UP

C. Attackers have the ball BUT no pressure BUT attacker has his head down HOLD OR PRESS

D. If attackers pass the ball backwards - PUSH UP

E. We win possession and play the ball forward PUSH UP OR OUT

How far do we push up if the attackers pass backwards?

Depends on the distance of the ball from the back 4 and the immediate pressure on the next player receiving the back pass. It could be a substantial step up from the back and could leave the attackers offside.

What if there's doubt as to whether to DROP or HOLD? If in doubt, always drop to be on the safe side.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Skill Practice 3

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Skill Practice 3

Attack is down the wing.

If the ball is played onto the wing, Defensive unit should shufffle over to defend - dog leg. Avoid White 8 or 6 going too wide. They can provide cover support instead as above - looking for the interception or - if White 2 should be beaten, and White 4 covers instead - can White 8 drop to help the defensive line until White 2 recovers and White 8 can sit in front of the Back 4 again?

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Functional Practice

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Functional Practice

Functional - Defending with a Back 4 - Use of One Word Commands.

Organisation:

Half pitch. Place cones midway between penalty area and half way line as a guide - infield cones should be in line with the edge of the penalty area and penalty spot.

Players are divided into two teams - 6 Blues (1- 4-1) and 4 Reds set up in a 1-3.

Aims:

Blue back 4 to become accustommed to use of one word commands:

UP 10 (advance 10 yards).

OUT (sprint out, potentially many yards).

HOLD.

SLIDE.

DROP (10 yards).

Functional Practice allows defensive unit to practice when to drop, when to hold the line and when to push up as a unit.

Instructions:

- Back 4 should try not to drop behind the line of cones.

- Back 4 to stay tight and compact - all within width of the penalty area.

- If the attack comes down either wing, unit must slide across with the furthest defender being in line with the far post.

- Reds move the ball around quickly vertically and horizontally to disorganize Blues and score on the big goal.

- When Blues win possession, they must look to score in the counter goals.

- Cones represent offside lines / restraining lines (Blues starting position).

- The coach serves the ball into Reds to start the activitiy and also varies where the ball is played to on restarts.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Phase of Play

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Phase of Play

Phase of Play.

Organisation:

On the Blue team, an additional MF #8 is added.

On the Red team, 2 central midfielders are added.

Structured starts with variation.

Aims:

If the Blue team win possession, can they score in the counter goals within 10 seconds.

The Blue team must combine quickly to score.

Offside rule applies when the Red team are attacking.

Instructions:

- Blue defenders must work as a unit. CB's are responsible for one word commands - UP; OUT; HOLD; SLIDE; DROP e.t.c.

- Blue #6 & #8 must try to play in front of the Back 4 - centrally - within width of the penalty area - seeking to close down the Red midfielders.

- Can the Red CF play directly on the back 4 - trying to remain on side.

- Can the Defence avoid dropping behind the cones?

Coaching Points:

a. Is there pressure on the ball or not? If not, and there are penetrating runs or a danger of a pass over the top, DROP. If not, and there are no penetrating runs or risk of a ball over the top, or the attacker in

possession isn't looking up - HOLD or UP. If there is good pressure on the ball, HOLD or UP.

b. The timing of when to drop, when to hold the line and when to step up, individually and collectively, and depending on the situation above.

c. Regaining possession - who regains possession? #6 or #8? If then attack - UP or OUT; If defence get the ball - depends on what the defenders do with it? Long ball - OUT; short pass forward - UP ; square ball - HOLD

d. Opponents caught offside - Don't stop! play to the whistle!

e. A sign that they are being successful is when the Back 4 ends up high up the field, away from the cones, even though the attackers still have the ball.

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