Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defending With a High Line

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The Football Academy NJ

Justin Canica

Profile Summary

Justin Canica
Name: Justin Canica
City: Hillsborough
Country: United States of America
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Description

Goal: Being able to defend in a high line

Overview: In this session, we want to work with the back 4 when defending in a high line. Can we catch the opposing team offside or compress the space and win the ball? 

Defending TTP: Get compact and keep it compact, Pressure with cover and balance

Attacking TTP: Spread out, Vary the types of runs, Balls in behind

Who: #1 #2 #3 #4 #5

What: Defending in the defensive/midfield third using the back four

Where: Midfield third into the defensive third

When: As we are out of possession and defending in a high line 

Why: We want to compress the space the other team has to play in and catch them offside when they play in behind

Technical Points:

Address the body shape of the back 4 and how they need to defend sideways on so they can be prepared for when the ball goes in behind 

The back 4 should constantly be in the same line to force offsides 

The goalie needs to be ready and quick off their line to deal with any balls in their direction when the ball is played in behind

Guided Questions:

Why do we want to play with a high line? To reduce the space the other team has to play in

What do we as a defensive team need to maintain at all times? Pressure, Cover, Balance

How should our body position be when playing in a high line? Sideways on incase, we need to run back when a ball is played in behind

Player actions:

The #1 needs to be able to come off their line to deal with any balls in behind

The #2 #3 #4 #5 need to defend in sideways on position in order to deal with balls behind 

The #2 #3 #4 #5 needs to work on defensive organization and catching the other team offside



Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Warm UP

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Warm UP
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Warm UP

Warm-up 20 minutes (10x2) At the interval address the positioning of the two defenders

To start the practice the team will start with their dynamic stretches.

After their dynamic stretches players will then jump into 4v2 rondos. Since we are working with the defensive team playing in a high line we want to focus on the two players in the middle. Can they pressure and try to win the ball without leaving gaps between them? Every time the two defenders get split they will stay in another round.  


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Orientation Phase

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Orientation Phase
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Orientation Phase

Orientation Phase 15 minutes (or however long it takes to bring out the problem)

Activity Description: In this activity, we have the orientation team (Blues) vs the learning team (Reds). The orientation team has 4 players a #11 #7 #9 and #10 and will start with the ball trying to score on the big goal. The learning team will look to defend in a high line (Green Line) and win back possession to score on the two counter goals. Be a ref to see how many times the reds can get the blues offside. 

In the learning Phase, we are working with the blues. They are looking to attack the space left behind the red team. The #7 and #11 need to stay wide to watch their line as well as to make diagonal runs in between the opposing team's fullback and center back. The #10 should be looking to play balls in behind for the front 3 to run onto. 

Guided Questions:

Where is the space for us to attack given how the other team is set up? In Behind 

How can we get in behind the backline? By getting spread out, making diagonal runs and making passes into space 


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Learning Phase

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Learning Phase
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Learning Phase

Learning Phase 35 Minutes

Activity Description: In this activity, we have the orientation team (Blues) vs the learning team (Reds). The orientation team has 4 players a #11 #7 #9 and #10 and will start with the ball trying to score on the big goal. The learning team will look to defend in a high line (Green Line) and win back possession to score on the two counter goals.  

In the learning phase, we are now working with the red team. We want to keep playing with a Highline but now we want to address how we need to defend in a high line. Address the body positions of the back 4 that they need to be sideways on in case the ball does go in behind they can turn and run back more easily. Address how the back 4 needs to shift and be compact as a unit. This way they do not create gaps on the field for the blues to exploit.  

Guided Questions

Why do we want to play with a high line? To reduce the space the other team has to play in

What do we as a defensive team need to maintain at all times? Pressure, Cover, Balance

How should our body position be when playing in a high line? Sideways on incase, we need to run back when a ball is played in behind


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Learning Phase Animation

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Learning Phase Animation
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Learning Phase Animation


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Implmentation Phase

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Implmentation Phase
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Implmentation Phase

Implementation Phase (20 Minutes)

In the implementation phase, we are looking to see if we can use what we just learned in a game. When presented in the game can either team attack the space in behind the defensive line? Can the defensive team play with a highline and reduce the space the other team has to play in?   


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