Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending High Pressure

Pressure Cover (25 mins)

Organization:

- Players work in groups of 6

- 4 attackers and 2 defenders

- Area of field is space between 18yd area ad half line as shown

Instructions:

- Attackers pass the ball back and forth and try to make a pass down the channels to their teammates on other side whenever they get the opportunity to

- Defenders should try to prevent the attackers from playing passes down the channels to teammates.

Coaching Points:

Progressions:

Zonal Game (25 mins)

Organization:

1. Full or half field divided into thirds. Defensive, Mid, and Attacking thirds

2.  Team divided into three groups with each team placed in a third as shown

3. Lots of balls in either goals

Instructions:

1. Ball started with team in the Mid (Neutral) third. Blue/Yellow team must attack either goal. The moment they cross over into a third they would be attacking that team. In the display Blue/yellow is attacking Black/white team

2. As the team enters the black team's defensive third the Black team is allowed to challenge for the ball and game is live. Blue team can either score directly on goal or play ball wide have have a cross for shot on goal

3. If the Black teams wins ball possession they must play the ball out into the neutral/mid third and make their way towards the red teams defensive third. 

4. As the black teams crosses into the Red teams third the game is live and activities are repeated.

5. Teams score 2pts for a goal directly from the middle or 5pts if goal is scored from a cross.

6. Game is played to 10pts or 10mins.

7. Game is restarted from GK every time ball goes out of play.

Coaching Points:

1. Quality and direction of first touch

2. Quality of passes and serves

3. Selecting the appropriate surface for finishing based on type of serve

4. Timing of runs from strikers and players movement of the ball

5. Strikers awareness of goalkeepers positioning as well has defensive players when finishing

Progressions:

1. P – Goals can only be scored from wide plays.

2. P – WIde players are uncontested when in ball possession