Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending zone 14

Warm - up (10 mins)

1. Players jog across the pitch either or in pairs, with or without a ball, or in pairs passing the ball.

2. Players get into pairs for short passing, 1 or 2 touch with lateral movements.

3. Players perform dynamic stretches whilst moving forwards & backwards

4. Players perform 2 minutes of 15 yard runs.

5. Players back in pairs for long passing, individuals doing dynamic match related work, Wingers & FB's, 3-4 short sharp passing then turn explosively. Strikers do shooting

6. Players perform 2 x 15 yard sprints.

SSG (30 mins)

Set - up

9 v 9

Defending team (red) play a 4-2-1-1. (work with this team)

Attacking team play a 3-3-2, attacking team must look to play through there midfielder three and through zone 14.

Game begins with Attacking GK playing the ball out.

If defending team win the ball can they play direct and get it to forwards quickly to there strikers.

Key Factors

- Do back four remain compact and use pitch geography to position themselves? Fb's to come tight if ball is central, defensive unit to cover three areas if out wide, with correct angles & distances to prevent ball between them.

- GK's starting position, can he force back four up to edge of zone 14. Defensive unit look to push up on a negative pass from the attacking team.

- HM's to show attackers out wide away from zone 14, body position and speed of approach to achieve this. If attacker is outwide does FB close him down to make a 2-1 in the defenders favour.

- Do the HM's work as a unit, HM to provide cover but be in a position to close down attacker if he recieves the ball.

- If ball is wide, do FB's position themselves to show attackers away from zone 14 and out wide? Can HM offer support to create a 2 v 1.

- Can the #10 prevent a positive passing line to the midfielder or strikers, and force play to go wide?

- Communication from back GK, back four & HM's to work as a unit.

- Recovery runs of defenders and HM's if they are beaten.