Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Zonal marking in the midfield(Third Defender) (Start Time: 2018-05-14 18:00:00)

EXOS warm ups (5 mins)

EXOS warm up. Plank, glute bridge, knee hugs, leg holds, skipping for height, close the gate, open the gate(walking backward), 2-inch runs

footwork (5 mins)

Players split into groups of three with two balls for each group. One player is in the middle. The other two set up at a 90 degree angle as servers. The middle player alternates taking rolling serves and one touch passing back back to the serve. The player alternates left and right foot. Emphasize proper techinique with inside of foot, ankle locked, with toe pointed up. After a minute, rotate to next player. Emphasize form over speed. Encourage building up speed if/when player gets a rhythm.

Rolling 3v3 (15 mins)

30 wide by 15 long grid with 3 goals on each end. A group of 3 attacks, a second defends, and the third waits behind the goals behind the attacking team. Attackers play until they score or lose possession. Attackers rotate off of field to behind goals they were attacking. Defenders then become the attackers going the other way. The original resting team jumps on to play defense. Coach should have a pile of balls to feed to start each play without a wait. Defenders use pressure, cover, balance to defend all 3 goals at once. Emphasis on 3rd defender keeping a position that allows them to reach backside attacker if field is switched while being close enough to provide cover on middle attacker. 3rd defender must be able to see ball and the wide attacker off their shoulder. If they cannot see both, they must drop until they can.

Scrimmage (10 mins)