Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): UEFA B License - Practical Session 2

Screen 1

Pre session information;

- Trying to achieve either a regain of possession or being able to screen the ball away from the centre of the pitch

- Defending team (focus) 1-3-3-1 attacking team 1-1- 4-2 (diamond)

- Focus on the midfield 3 delaying and denying through balls into the two strikers and being aware of when to press.

Who: Midfield 3 and Defensive 3

Where: Midfield and defensive 3rds

What: Compactness to stop through balls

When: Out of possession in the defensive half

How: Shuffle - delay/deny also pressing to win the ball when appropriate, compactness

Game based scenario 

The opposition operate in a 1-4-4-2 system of play with 2 strikers who do not recover when possession is lost and act as an outlet when their team regains possession of the ball.

You play with a 1-3-5-2 system of play when in possession.

How will you defend when possession is lost to counter their attacking tactic?

Session set up;

Defending team 1-3-3-1 (focus)

Attacking team 1-1-4-2 (diamond)

Attackers and defenders are locked in zones.

Coaching points

- Midfield 3 delay attack and attempt to cut off any through balls into the two strikers 

- Opposition play quick and look for through balls into strikers. Looking for movement from the front two

- Defenders pick up at arms distance and pass defenders over. Three CB are not to cross over each other. 

Defender who isn’t man marking is the key to press when appropriate

Individual points

- 6 needs to work on screening passes and intercepting into striker. Focus on the positioning of the player

- 3 CB Need to work on player rapport with each other, communication is key for successfully defending of two attackers.

Progression: One midfielder for attacking team can join the attack as well as one midfielder from the defensive team can defend. 

Personnel coaching points

- Coaching positioning - move through the midfield zone correcting accordingly.

- Individual - unit - team. Alter and correct.

- Shorten interventions, be quick and appropriate.

- Check understanding (constantly probe players reflect on main principles)

- Demonstrate what I want in regards to the CDM.

- Consistently refer to defending principles.

Tactical Information 

- Attacker win the ball - CB presses, other CB gets man side of the ball and goal and the other CB looks to press backwards

- How can we look to force play away from central zones.