Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Set Pieces - Defending a corner. (Start Time: 2022-10-21 19:15:00)

Warm Up (15 mins)

Defending Corners - Warm Up.

20 x 20 area set up

8 to 10 players per area, parallel session set up if needed.

4 players inside, 4 outside.

Coaching the inside players to attack the ball, managing the outside players to throw the ball in. 

Playing for 15 mins with progressions.

Explanation

Outside players will throw a ball in to one of the inside players, we are looking to encourage inside player to attack the ball, playing it back to the feeder. Then inside player will turn and find a different feeder player to receive a ball from. 

Encourage inside players to attack the ball, playing it back when running, dont want the player to stop his run then play back.

Rotate inside/outside players after 2 mins.

Progression

Same practice, but this time we will head it back to the feeder player.

Key Points

Encourage players to be brave, confident, determined. This will set them up for later in the session with defending corners. 

These two ways (heading and kicking) are how we deal with clearing/defending the corner and free kicks.

Attack the ball in movement, dont get there, stop then deal with it. 

Heading - height on the ball

Defending a corner - Position of Zonal Markers. (35 mins)

Defending a Corner - Position and roles of Zonal Markers. 

3-5-2 formation.

Zonal Markers - 

Will be positioned in the 6 yd box

Main focus should be attacking the ball

These players are responsible for drilled crosses into the 6yd box.

CB 1 - Protects front post, must be good header of the ball.

CB 2 - Strong and aggressive, must attack the first ball.

CB 3 - Deals with over hit crosses, will also drop in to protect back post if ball played in central.

WB - Will close down short corners, if ball is delivered into the box will drop back to cover 2nd balls.

CM - Responsible for any balls cleared to the edge of the box, can also cover short corners.

GK - Commanding, brave.

Loud shout 'keepers' when coming to catch a cross

'Away' - getting defenders to clear the danger. 

'Get out' - can we push out, catch opposition offside?



Defending a Corner - Zonal and Man Markers

Defending a Corner - Zonal and Man Marking (3-5-2 formation)

Full organisation of defending a corner

3 Centre Backs - Zonal marking

CM, DM, WB - Man markers

WB closes down short corners, drops in to box to cover 2nd balls. Also an outlet out to start a counter attack.

CM Will be responsible for balls cleared to edge of box, dealing with short corners. 2nd outlet for counter attack.

Strikers will stay high and wide ready for quick transition into attacking shape.

2

Pattern of Play - 2

Gk plays out to central defender or straight an outer centre back. 

CB plays direct into the striker, who will pass straight back to the midfielder.

The midfielder plays a pass through the opposition central defenders looking for the run of the furthest striker to finish. 

Again, can be played to the right and all roles and responsibilities reversed. 

4

Pattern of Play - 4

Ball played out to outer CB. 

CB to play to the wingback, who again will be positioned high and wide making the pitch as big as possible when we are in possession. 

Wingback will play straight into far sided striker, who will play a pass into his teammate(striker) for a shot on goal. 

Again, the striker who passes must go forward to latch on to any loose ball. 

Whole team going forward together.