Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending Final Third out of Possession (Start Time: 2024-01-28 11:15:00)

General Practice (10 mins)

Primary Focus

Final Third - Defending - Out of Possession  

Protect the Middle / Force Wide / Minimise Box Entries / Stop Crosses / Defend the Box

Organisation

12 players will be organised in to two teams of 6.

In Transition to SSG one player from each team will become a goalkeeper.

Area Size

The area size will be 36y in length and 40y wide.

This can be adapted based on the age and ability of the players.

Timings

2 minute blocks applicable as this general practice will be quite a high intense physical workload with 1 minute rest to coach/advise.

Explanation

Initially the practice begins with a possession based game where teams are asked to keep the ball but they must stay in their designated areas. 

This will get the players used to the area being played in and team mates/opposition in their zones.

We then move into the general practice where players must dribble through the gates to score a goal.

Blue team will attack the blue cones and red team will attack the red cones.

As we coach the red team we want to challenge them to stay narrow and show the blue side outside and away from the gates. 

As soon as the ball enters our zone they need to press the ball and defend the box.

+1 can be utilised here as we have two defenders in the area who can react to where the ball is and compliment their defensive partner

When we win the ball back in the final third we need to move the ball into the middle or the attacking third to start an attack off.

Conditions

The pitch will be split into three 12 yard long boxes.

Each area requires two players from each side at all times.

Progressions
1. Allow an extra attacker into the final third to create an overload 

2. Defenders have to make 4 passes before moving it to another zone

3. Defender can travel through a line to get to the next zone by dribbling

Regressions

1. Allow an extra defender into the final third from the middle area

2. Touch limit for attackers in the final zone to go through the gate

Success Criteria

- Mechanics of technique - Passing - Look at target / Eye on ball / Angle of approach / non kicking foot alongside ball in comfortable position / strike centre of ball with inside or outside / firm ankle / follow through towards target

- Mechanics of technique - Defending - Get in line with the ball / Pressure on the ball / Deceleration / Body Position / Stay on Toes / Be Patient / Decision to win the ball

Game Specific Success

- Defenders allow attackers to play wide but not narrow

- Lack of dribbling through gates

- Ball doesn't enter the final third often or is pressurised immediately when in the final third