Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending - Depth and Cover
Reseller-Club: Premier Users' Club
Roberto Mazza
Profile Summary
| Name: | Roberto Mazza |
|---|---|
| City: | Tecumseh |
| Country: | Canada |
| Membership: | Adult Member |
| Sport: | Football/Soccer |
Description
Defensive session - Concentrating on defenders moving together in relation to the ball and offering depth and cover.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
4v4 Possession (15 mins)
Groups split into two groups of 8. One group to work on possession with the other on defensive work then swap over.
Possession
Organisation
4v4 in a 24x 24 yard box. Emphasis is on high pressure and players ensuring they take responsibility for keeping individual and team possession.
Variations
1) 3 touch maximum possession (5 passes for 1 point)
2) Man to man marking possession, each player can only tackle or be tackled by one player. (4 passes for 1 point)
3) Players must run around a cone on outside of box if they are the player that gives away possession (6 passes for 1 point)
Coaching Points
- Detail of passing (accuracy, weight, safe side)
- Maintain individual possession (body between ball and defender)
- pressure on ball (triggers)
- play with head up, have a picture before receiving possession
Questioning
- When should we press aggressivley?
- Tell me about the weight of pass required? which side?
- How would you position your body to protect the ball?
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Defensive Movement (10 mins)
Defensive Movement
Organisation
4v4 in a 30 x 30 yard area. Blues line up in a diamond formation. Whites line up as a back 4. Blues move the ball between them and the whites change position in relation. Swap groups
Movements
Pass out wide - back four move across (nike tick shape showing depth - no straight lines. Don't go too early so ball can't be played inside fullback)
Pass back into centre - defenders narrow and creep forward together
Pass into striker - central defender presses the ball, defenders behind narrow
Deep Midfielder threatens ball in behind - defenders drop off on half turn
Coaching Points
- as above
- communication from defenders and goalkeeper
Direct coaching style used here - not looking to ask questions.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
4 v 4 (10 mins)
4v4 to end lines
Organisation
In same area, ball starts from coach, teams try to attack each other and dribble the ball over end line. Group with goalkeeper, gk stays behind end line and practises communication - 'Up', 'drop off' 'slide across' 'press'
Coaching points
- Reinforcement of defensive movements
- Cover position of second defender
- Shape of defensive line (not square)
Questioning
- when do we move up?
- how should our body position be when we drop off?
- when do you know when you should press in a wide area?
- where do you want to force the opposition?
- who should be communicating?
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Game (20 mins)
8v8 game
Organisation
Half Pitch. Freeplay. 4-3-1 v 4-2-1 formations. Stoppages to reinforce previous coaching points.
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Warm Up - Rondo (10 mins)
Warm Up - 10 mins
Organisation - (2 groups of 8)
Rondo practise. 6v2 inside 12x12yd box (make smaller if necessary). Defending two change every time possession is lost. Player that loses possession and the player who played the previous pass go in the middle.
Aim
Players to take responsibility for keeping possession / detail and accuracy / weight of passes.
Variation / Progression
Players in possession play in a two touch / one touch order.
Coaching points (defenders)
- stay together, don't get split
- first player press, second player diagonally behind
- anticipation of pass
- trigger for aggressive press (lofted pass, poor touch)
Questioning (to defenders)
- Where don't you want the pass to go?
- Which triggers may tempt you to press aggressively?