Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): 7.24 Defending in Attacking Half

1v1 defending (15 mins)

1v1 Defending to small goals

If defender wins the ball they transition by dribbling across the endline

-Fast to slow - high to low

-Bend run and have staggered stance

-Stay Goal side

Where are your toes pointing?

3-5-2 Defenind attacking half (25 mins)

Defending in Offensive Half:

Black team has 3 aims:

1. Complete 5 consecutive passes

2. Dribble the ball through the halfway line

3. To switch play successfully towards a player within a blue box on the weak side

Defending team (blue) prevent these 3 aims from happening. They try to win possession and have 6-8 seconds to score (counter attack).

*The black winger on the strong side should enter the playing area or not as soon as the goal keeper makes the first pass.

Diagram A: If the black winger stays in the box, the blue LM can move forward and close down opposition OB. In this situation the Blue HM should not move into an advanced position.

Diagram B: If the black winger enters the playing area, the blue LM marks her and doesn't move forward to put pressure on OB. The Blue AM should read the situation and shift to close down the black OB. Since the LM is in a deep position, the HM can move into an advanced position (not too advanced) to mark the opposing HM as part of a chain reaction

Restriction:

The black players are not allowed to pass back to their goalkeeper or any other teammate inside the penalty area in order to obtain a switch of play towards the weak side.

Coaching Points

1. Focus is on pressing and not the transition phase. If the blue team lose possession while trying to score a goal, the game starts again with the black GK and players return to their starting positions.

2. The Blue team need to use aggressive marking against the potential receivers and should look to utilise double marking whenever possible to try and win possession.

3. The Blue team need to make sure they retain a compact formation with short distances between each other, using synchronised movements. This enables them to pass on players' marking far more easily.

3-5-2 Positions and their defensive responsibilities (30 mins)

1-3-5-2 Positions

GK - Goalkeeper - must play high line and comfortable playing a sweeper role. Good communicator with back line and vision to anticipate any breakdowns

RB - Right back - great 1v1 defender, aggressive and understands how to provide cover and balance

CB- Center back - The most important player in the back three. Doesn't have to be the most athletic but has to know how to read the game and communicate with entire team. #1 most important characteristic is communication!

LB - Left back - great 1v1 defender, aggressive and understands how to provide cover and balance

RM- Right mid - great 1v1 defender and must always provide balance with "fishhook" for weakside outside back. Good positional understanding

HM - Holding mid - must play always try to be Goal Side (in line between the ball and the goal) or else the whole line collapses. Only way opposing team can split us is if you’re not in position. Against a 2 front HM is 10 yards off of the three, against a 3 front you’re 7 yards off the 3 backs. HM can go sideline to sideline, tackling everything you can.

AM- Attacking mids : the two AM's must have a high work rate, and pressure all over the field. They need to stay connected defensively.Will need to double down in all areas of the field. If ball gets played past them, they need to turn, sprint and Double Down. Doesn't have to be the quickest but an extremely hard worker.

LM - Left mid: great 1v1 defender and must always provide balance with "fishhook" for weakside outside back. Good positional understanding

FW- Forward: has to be ready to double down to anything in their area and understand how to position themselves between the two center-backs. Extremely hard worker as well.

FW - Forward: has to be ready to double down to anything in their area. Extremely hard worker as well.