Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defending the Middle Zone 1

Defending the Middle (Zone 1)

Zonal Defending (Defending the Middle - Zone 1) 

Principles - 1) Press & Return 2) Body Orientation Half or Three Quarter Turn (Feet not square, butts to goal) 3) Shift with ball movement 4) Defend as High as Possible  5)Stay Compact as a group (This becomes the foundation for the principle of press, cover, balance when players play11v11)

Notice - Middle is always well protected (4players diamond or square shape).  Last line avoids dropping into goal area because ball is above goal area (defending high) as much is possible 

When ball goes low (below goal area), the last line must drop to the height of the ball.   We are always trying to keep 4 players (diamond) in the middle area.  (one defender outside the middle area at a time is the idea)

This is why 1v1 defending is so important, because if the pressing defender get beat 1v1, then the next defender must step up to close.  This will cause spaces to open up in the middle providing additional opportunity for goals.  We defend high because if we drop back to low, we interfere with the goalie ability to see ball and we invite attackers into this area close to the keeper.  Any loose ball in this area becomes much more dangerous and difficult to clear if the box is super crowded.   Hence in attack, getting the ball to low areas an look to cut back or bounce off the end wall become really difficult to defend.