Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending As A Unit - 2 (Start Time: 2013-11-08 17:30:00)

Shadow Play (20 mins)

Description

Shadow Play exercise. Working off numbered cones (based on plating positions). Players have to move to the defensive positions / recover to positions depending on what number the ball is at!

Should be a high temp exercise once the concept is grasped.

Progressions can be made depending on whether the team are pressing high up the pitch, pressing in the middel of the park or dropping deep to defend

Technical

* Speed of run

* Distance betweem players in the unit

* Distance between the units

Tactical

* When to fully press and when to sit deep

* Can players fill in for each other?

Physical

* short sprints (speed, agility etc)

* Prolonged period of fitness (cardio)

Psychological/Social

* Develop Good habbits

* Develop Communication

Learning Objectives

* Improve Defenisve Shape (within units + between units)

* Improve Communication

* Improve individual positioning

* Promote recovery runs

11 v 11 Game - Defensive Shape (Pressing) (40 mins)

Description

11 v 11 Game Situation (work on defensive shapes with recovery runs)

* Working on commiting men forward and pressing high up the pitch

Technical

* Individual starting position

* Body Shape

* Distances + Speed of closing down once in the tigger point

Tactical

* Individual trigger points (when to start closing)

* Unit position

* Gaps between the units

* Control and restraint (standing up v's diving in)

Physical

Match related fitness (however- high intensity as pressing high up the pitch):

* Strength

* Speed

* Cardio Vascular Endurance

Psychological/Social

* Communication

* Goal Setting

* Competitive Edge

Learning Objectives

* Defending as an individual (starting positions, trigger points, positioning)

* Defending as a unit (communication, starting position / maintaing correct distances)

* Defending as a group of units ( distance between the units, communication)

* Decision making (what stage of defending. when to press high and when to drop)