Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): COMPACT MIDFIELD

Midfield unit remaining compact (60 mins)

Practice organisation

• Area 60x40yds, marked into equal thirds, with mid-third divided into 4 zones, two 5yd channels the length of area down both sides & appropriate size goals at each end, as illustrated.

• 18 players (incl. 2GK’s), arranged 8v8, plus two

Neutral players who operate in wide channels, 1 ball.

• D’s in mid-third attempt to cover 2-3 of the 4 zones.

• Practice starts with: ball fed from side by N to player in defensive third.

• All attacks must pass through middle third.

• N’s can be used for support by both teams & must pass into middle third on receiving.

Detail

• Challenge: Try to win ball back in midfield areas to establish a counter-attack

• Opportunities to rotate players in position should be taken, due to structured nature of practice.

• In Midfield areas:

- Marking positions & distances.

- Passing opponents on to other MF defenders.

- Moving across pitch together as a 3 man unit.

- Tracking opponents as they move forward.

• Simple progressions for this practice are:

- Man-for-man marking used in each end zone.

- Two of the three MF players can move forward into attacking third to take up scoring positions.

Key coaching points

• In Midfield:

- Defensive compactness & shape in each of the thirds.

- Defensive distances.

- Defensive pressure, cover & balance.

• Angles & distances of support to the pressurising D.

• Positioning & looking to intercept.

• Keeping sight of ball when in marking & covering situations.

• Tackling off front & back foot.

• Preventing attackers from turning.

• Blocking passes crosses & shots.

• Organising against counter-attack