Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending Principles - Shape + Communication

Communication (15 mins)

Key Factors

Teach Players Key Words

Narrow - become compact and close together in the middle of the pitch/towards the ball - distances of 10 yards

Hold - Hold the defensive line, dont move up or drop back

Drop - move slightly deeper towards your own goal, helps if you say a number of yards - e.g. "Drop 5"

Squeeze - Move up the pitch slightly towards oppostion goal, helps if you say a number of yards e.g. "Squeeze 5"

Shuffle - slide over towards the ball, not dropping or squeezing, the whole team shuffling over together

Press - close down the ball, quickly, put pressure on the man in possession,

Out - normally after a long clearance or from a corner etc - get out up the pitch towards opposition goal

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Coach can shout commands and players follow.

Choose a player to shout commands and players follow.

Different Players - Centre Backs, Mid 3 etc

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Organisation

Half Pitch Set Up - Maybe Slightly Smaller

Team in Defensive Shape

Team Defensive Shape With Opposition (30 mins)

Key Factors

Blues Start with Possession Every Time - Coach Passes to Either FB or Either CM.

Reds are passive to start with, trying to intercept not tackle.

Blues need to pass the ball around from player to player, the aim is to get it into either striker.

reds need to communicate and work as a team to block passing lines and force the blues wide or force them into a bad pass/mistake.

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Affect Blue Team - Blue Full Backs stay on touchlines, Blue CM's always be available to pass to (not too high), Blue Wingers stay on touchlines for most of the play if possible, Blue ST's stay narrowish looking for it to feet.

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As Shown - Red CM presses Blue 6 and gets in the passing lane to Blue 9. Red CDM moves to block passing lane to Blue 10. Red wingers Narrow up to Block pasing lanes direct to Blue Wingers. Red Other CM Slides across slightly but not dropping, in order to be able to press Blue 8 if ball is played across.

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Red Wingers will always show Blue Full Backs back inside the pitch, arcing their runs to cut off the ball down the line, and using their body position to force the Blue FB inside. Red CDM Blocks off a forward pass along with furthest CM. Nearest CM stays slightly higher to press Blue CM who could potentially receive.

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Red Full Backs will Show Down the line using their body position to stop the Blue Wingers coming inside. Red CDM can come across and block passing lane inside to Blue ST feet. Furthest CM will drop too. Nearest CM will stay slightly higher to Put pressure on pass back to Blue CM. Red Winger will try to double-up to force Blue Winger Down the Line.

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COMMUNICATION IS VITAL. BACK FOUR NEED TO BE CONSTANTLY TALKING, ORGANISING THE MIDFIELD 5, ESPECIALLY THE CDM TO BLOCK PASSING LANES.

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Organisation

Defending Team - Reds - Coached Team

Attacking Team - Blues - Team to Affect

Half Pitch

1-4-1-4 - Red Team

CM x 2, FB x 2, W x 2, ST x 2 - Blue Team