Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Specific Practice - OP - Defend the Final Third

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Nathan Catherall

Profile Summary

Name:	Nathan Catherall
City:	Nr. Mold
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Welsh Way Principles

Understanding when and how to minimise space, deal with crosses / shots & protect space centrally in the defensive third.

Coaching Points

Out of possession (Coached)

Protect the middle
Force Wide
Minimise box entries
Stop crosses
Defend the box

In possession (Uncoached)

Width and Depth
Risk taking
Final Pass
Finishing

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Arrival Activity

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Learning Objectives

	Technical Work on specific ball control techniques. Ensuring repetition and development of core ball mastery techniques.
	Tactical Ball retention techniques being practiced.
	Physical Players constantly moving, starting to warm up in preparation for the football session ahead.
	Psychological Beginning to focus on the session ahead. Topic introduced, can they mentally prepare for the challenges ahead.
	Social First part of the session, arrival activity, players to be greeting each other and getting any pre session discussions out of their system.

Arrival Activity (5 mins)

Arrival Activity

As players arrive they grab a ball and dribble around the 20x20 box (adjustable to suit player age, size and numbers). Bibs are dictated to players on arrival in preparation for the session, by the assistant coach.

The assistant coach calls out commands, such as Cruyff Turn, all players then demonstrate that particular skill. Coach cycles through various turns, skills and ball mastery techniques, and picking up on any players that need feedback.

When the lead coach has set up the session and ready to take the players, he introduces the topic during their ball mastery work. Potential to use Q&A to see what the players already know regarding the topic.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 2

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Screen 2

Organisation

Area size 50m x 50m
6 v 6 + GK
10 balls in the gray zone.
10 flat cones to create a central zone.
2 Poles.

Explanation

The red team will be defending in a 4 - 4 -2 shape as they would do in a game but for this practice, we are not going to use LM, RM, and SFs. The aim is to try to protect the final third, which means try to protect the central areas by being narrow and compact, show the opposition to go wide, defend 1 v 1 situations when needed in wide areas and deal with crosses.
The blue team will try to maintain the width at all times, try to be quick with their final pass to break down the opposition and try to take risks.

Conditions, Targets & Challenges.

When the ball goes off the pitch blue team will get a ball and start from the back.
Red team to get a point you need to score in the mini-goal.
Red team, you have 10 seconds to score once winning the ball.

Technical & Tactical Detail.

The priority is to be narrow and compact to protect the central channel and show the opposition to play wide. Move as a unit in a relation to the ball.
When the ball is in wide areas, opposite FB to be in a line with the back post.
When the opposition goes past the poles who are placed on either side of the pitch we are looking to shut down the space quickly and engage.
When the FB presses the ball the nearest CM should be close to block the pass to the SF and be ready to defend if needed.
GK to be in between the ball and the center of the goal, near the goal.

Physical Social and Psychological Detail

Quick reaction when the ball goes in a dangerous area to be able to stop the opposition from shooting or crossing.
Distance when defending, avoid diving and try to identify triggers when to defend aggressively - When the ball is not on the ground, bad touch, head down, hesitation, and when facing their own goal.
Jumping - Acceleration - Deceleration - When
GK to communicate and be loud. Look at the distances in between the defenders.
Encourage players to be physical, be on their front food, be big and wide and needed to balock a shot.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): SSG

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SSG

Organisation -

8v9 with keepers
Tapered on the second goal
Blues defend the goal not tapered off.

Explanation -

Blues defend the goal in the final third, reds to put pressure on looking to get crosses in and get shots off at goal.

Challenges - (The Individual Players within the Practice)

Blue Team out of possession to try and stay narrow as a unit with equal space between players covering each other and stop split passes or runs quickly in danger areas

Blue Team to stop the Blues from playing forward and looking to force playback or wide.

Blue Team in the possession time limit to get a shot at goal

Red Team in possession quick strong runs on and off the ball

Targets - (Goals / Players / Zones / Passes)

Both Teams get a goal if they score

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