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Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): defending the final third

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Pro-Club: FAW Coach Ed

John Mardon

Profile Summary

John Mardon
Name: John Mardon
City: Cardiff
Country: United Kingdom
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Specific Lead Practice Defending the Final Third 5mins

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Specific Lead Practice Defending the Final Third 5mins
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Specific Lead Practice Defending the Final Third 5mins (5 mins)

Lead Practice - 5mins

Defend the Final Third

POP - Red team (coached)- Protect the middle / force wide / stop-defend the cross / body on the line

           Black team (managed) - Width and depth / combination play / final pass / quality of finish


Organisation

12 Players + GK and Feeder - RED 4-2-0 - BLUE 0-4-2

Half pitch tapered 

One full size goal and 2 mini target goals

Key Factors

  • Red teams objective - defend the final third, if possession is won try to score in either mini target goal
  • Black team trying to score passed GK in full size goal
  • Practice starts when feeder passess to either Black MF player - must wait till back four are reset
  • For realism offside will be in play
  • Who does - What,Where, How & Why?
  • High Tempo
  • Two patterns - 1. MF press body shape  2. FB engages, unit shuffles across 

Walkthrough first to layer in POP - body position (side on, open shoulders, see 3 corners), show outside not inside, pressure (angle of approach), good distances, defensive shape

Defending Coaching Points

  • Two Red CMs  - protect the defensive (screen), 1st press on black two MFs when ball goes live, direct play force one way together 
  • If the ball goes wide  - full backs are to engage - stop the cross
  • Rest of the defense shift across leave furthest player - work as a unit
  • Encourage defensive communication - all players + GK
  • Block shots - be brave

Challenges & Targets

Reds - 2 points scored for goals scored in either mini target goal with 10sec time limited once possession is won

            1 point for stopping cross or blocking shots              

Blacks - Give reds problems to solve - 

              3 points for playing through compact defensive shape and scoring passed GK. 

              1 point for scoring off a cross

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defending The Final Third SSG

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defending The Final Third SSG
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Defending The Final Third SSG

SSG Defend the Final Third - 15-20mins

5 Blocks

  • 3min free play
  • Winger comes inside - 3mins
  • Terminal - tactical intervention - CF drops in to receive 1min
  • CF drops in 3min
  • 2v1s in the wide areas - 3min
  • Free play - winger comes in, CF drops in, 2v1s 3-5mins

Adhere to the Lead Practice POP - 

  • Red team (coached)- Protect the middle / force wide / stop-defend the cross / body on the line
  • Black team (managed) - Width and depth / combination play / final pass / quality of finish

Organisation

9v9 SSG

Half pitch with tapered sides

RED - 4-3-3 - no wingers

BLACK - 4-4-2 - no full backs

Explanation

Red team - defend the final third as per Lead practice POP, deal with the attacking threat if possession is won play forward quickly on the counter attack to score 

Black team must give Reds problems to solve. Build up play and combine with wingers and CFs to score in the final third. Be creative and clinical.

What ifs

  • Winger comes inside from wide areas? MF or CB steps in 
  • CF drops in? CB drops in
  • 2v1s in wide areas - CB comes across MF can fill in
  • Black team play long - recognize players trigger point when drawing foot back to play long drop off to attack header, deal with aerial challenge and MFs pick up knock downs and seconds

Challenges & Targets

Reds - Can possession be won and score in 10sec - IMPORTANT, SSS (supply, support, stretch or on, around, away)

           Can you push up with a higher press - IMPORTANT - distances between units - not to big

           GK communicate clearly with back four - organize shape, stay narrow and compact, shift across as a unit 

           2 points for a goal

           1 point for blocked shots & crosses                        

Blacks - Give reds problems to solve -

              3 points for playing through compact defensive shape and scoring passed GK.

              1 point for scoring off a cross

              Movement,rotation, runners

              High tempo                 

Realism

Offside

Throw ins

Goal kicks - 10 secs to score

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