Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending zone 14 11 vs 11

Function

Function

Reds protecting zone 14. Focusing on the midfield unit and attacking unit shape. If reds win the ball they have to find CF s within two passes to score through 3 gates. (Condition 8 secs to score)

Blues score by playing ball into zone 14 into shaded area for CFs. If succesful blues have 4 seconds to get a shot off. Blue wide players conditioned to stay wide .

Problem 1

Blues playing round into wide areas to score through zone 14. Firstly blues wide players stay wide and in positions looking to dribble or pass into zone 14. If nothing is on blues start again and switch. CM for blues could try and move the screen.

Solution

If FB has ball show inside. Our CF dropped to be a no 10. We have a 3 vs 2 advantage inside. Cover , cover balance. (remember reference points) Body positions all the same.

If wide man has ball for them FB would show wide. CM be cover & cut off pass into CF. Second twin screen in line with front post and opposite wide man tucks into central area in line with back post.

Problem 2

Blues playing through to score into zone 14. 2 CFs become a 9 and 10. 2 CM s split wide to open up twin screen. 10 looking to receive in the gap. Or could look at blues wide man rolling in to receive half space and full back playing higher.

Reds need to score in 8 secs in 3 mini goals. Blues to score by going through zone 14 then 4 secs to get there shot off.

May limit some of blue players to 2 touch i.e CB, CM

Defending play around (10 mins)

Problem 1

Blues look to play around into CFs in zone 14 using FB and wide man. These players can pass or dribble into zone 14. 

Reds are playing a low block narrow and compact, not pressurising the ball until play enters zoned area, as shown on practice

Reds given information to show Blues inside when reds FB have it and outside when reds Wide man has it.

Defending in a low block

Look to build in blocks coaching point one

(Individual details first) No9 and No10 work as pair, Showing outside once defender enters shaded area, Angle of run body position, stopping switch, triggers and distances away from ball will all be addressed. Then move partner, dropping deeper, filling space in front of midfielders, dropping near deepest midfielder stopping ball into player. In a position ready to move forward if ball is switched, both players look to keep a distance of between 12-15 yards.

Next coaching point

Midfield unit. (4 players across middle)

Wide player closest to ball, if pass goes to full back, show inside, angle of approach. Central midfielders, nearest player comes across, in position to cut off passing lane to nearest striker and also in position to close down opposition midfielder. (roughly between edge of 18 yard box and 6 yard box.) Midfield partner deeper than partner, filling central area, stopping ball into second striker (roughly between lines of 6 yard box) And in position to affect his opposite number if ball gets played. Opposite wide player, Look at distances to come across making pitch smaller, pitch geography of looking to get in area around corner of 6 yard box to edge of 18 yard depending on how wide the ball is. In a position to affect pass into furthest midfielder, getting goal side of where ball is. and also in a position to get close to left back if ball is switch.

Next Block

Back 4 unit

Full back Closest to ball, Show outside, body angle, cant make it easy to get to line and cross ball. Distances away from player so can try and stop cross.

Centre back nearest ball, be in a position ball side of first striker and also in a position to release if attacker gets past full back. Furthest centre back comes across between strikers, in front of second striker, (roughly between width of 6 yard box, protecting goal) Slightly deeper than partner and in a position to play off side if attacker makes a run too early. Also needs to keep an open body position so attacker can be seen.

Opposite full back should be in a position to cover furthest centre back, in line or slightly in front of furthest centre back so he does not play everyone on side. His pitch geography is between centre of the goal and edge of 6 yard box, Open body position so can be aware of opposite wide player making run into box.

Make sure this is explained if the ball is on either side of the pitch (Mirror effect)

Walk through to show this.

What if?

Wide man manages to cut inside past our FB. CM must close ball. CBs never come out of position. Opposite screen comes across and opposite wide man becomes another screen.

If CB does come out of position then CM drops into CB position.

What Ifs? (25 mins)

What if?

Ball goes in zone 14 and back wide with a 1 vs 1 sutuation?

FB shows wide

Closest CM becomes cover between FB and CB.

CBs stay in box looking to defend any cross front post and central.

Opposite FB tucks in level with back post

Opposite wide man and CM are in line with a post each but on the edge of the box.

Closest wide man and 1 cf come central and mark their 2 CMs

1 CF stays up

See pic above.

What if?

If ball enters zone 14 into CFs feet can screens turn and tackle on touch. Do CBs go touch tight or stay in shape and delay. FB s narrow up no shots or slid passes from zone 14. CMs turn quickly and pressure ball.

What if?

We get caught unorganised after we have counter attacked? Quick recovery runs. Delay player on the ball if possible. Fill spots.