Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): ETB Limerick Session 4

Screen 1

Method:   9v9 game. Formations 1-3-4-1. 20 minutesOnce your team loses the ball the striker becomes idle and can'tdefend forcing and must stay in the attacking half. This forces an8v7 overload for the attacking team and forces our defending teamto drop off and defend in a low block. When the defending teamwins the ball back they must keep good possession and becomfortable on the ball. We want to see them transition to attack,so once they keep good possession they need to hit the striker inthe opposite half with good quality. This striker has 3 touches whenthe ball is initially played up to them but in order to score theattacking team must all run up beyond the blue line. This willencourage a fast transition to attack but also force the defendingteam that just lost the ball to recover quickly and defend in a low block

Coaching Points:

T2D - When your team loses the ball, the players recover runs mustbe done with high intensity so they can get back into shape to defendagainst the over load. The striker is not allowed press so this will force this to happen. 

Press and Cover - Leave the cb on the ball. Midfielders stay narrow and once the ball goes to a full back 5 yards inside the halfway linethe winger on that side will press and force them back. From there the midfielders shift across and opposite winger tucks in but staysslightly higher than the midfielder so if we win the ball back he is in a position to break. The back 3 shift across, leaving only the long ballto the opposite full back and winger and back to cb. Although it is a low block we must press with intensity inside our own half and itsimportant players know when to do this. 

Communication - When defending, this is a must. The GK can see the hole pitch so he must be giving information to his defenders.Defenders talking to the midfielders and wingers in front of them and midfielders to strikers. 

Distances - Players must stay compact with each other, roughly 8/10 metres apart and stop the opposition from playing between thelines. Force the ball out wide and backwards and move as a unit leaving the furthest players on the opposite side free. Its really importantthe defenders don't drop too deep and allow a big distance between themselves and the midfield where players can pick up littlepockets, they must also communicate with the midfielders to help them shield any through balls. The keeper must organise and bevocal. 

T2A - Once the ball is won back it is important to establish possession and hit the striker with good quality. He only has 3 touches so its