Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Pressure Cover

Screen 1

Organization:

• 3 teams of 2
• 1 ball (Extra balls divided evenly at either endline)
• 16x8 yd space divided into 8x8 yd boxes
• Puggs at either end
• Tall orange cones marking the outside of the halfline

Instructions:

• Blue and black (Attacking) vs white (Defending) to start
• 2v1 in each box, players must stay in their box
• Blue/black get 1 pt every time they connect a pass from box to box
• Blue/black must connect 3 passes before playing into other box
• White is trying to prevent them from earning points
• Play for 90 seconds
• Restart from opposite box that the ball went out from

Coaching Points/Questions:

• 1st attacker
  • close down quickly
  • side on positioning
  • make play predictable (body shape)
• 2nd attacker
  • Awareness of ball and opponents
  • Anticipation of forward pass

Regressions/Progressions:

• Size
  • Progression = make space bigger (Physical)
  • Regression = make space smaller (Physical)
• Task
  • Progression = Reduce # of required passes for teams in possession (Physical/tactical)
  • Regression = Possession teams must take at least two touches while also connecting minimum # of passes (Physical/tactical)
  • 2nd defender is no longer restricted to their half (Tactical
• Equipment
  • Progression - defenders earn points by scoring in pugg (2 pts) or knocking over orange cones (1 pt) (Technical)
• Players
  • Progression - If defenders win possession from one team, they can play to the other team and attack with them (Transition) (Tactical, cognitive)