Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Task 9 - Coach Task 4

Coach Task 4 - Concentration (10 mins)

Organisation

• Half size pitch set up with full size goal at the end and 2 mini goals either side of the centre circle.
• Reds are team being coached will be set up in 2 banks of 4 to defend as a unit (2 CB's, LB, RB, 2 CM's, LW, RW)
• Blues to be managed and set up with 2 FB's, holding midfielder, 2 number 10's, left and right wingers and a centre forward.
• Goalkeeper only for the reds.
• Balls placed near the kick off spot where the coach will feed to one of the blue FB's or CDM to start each play.

Explanation

The blues will be trying to break down the 2 banks of 4 set up by the reds who will be defending in a low block. The aim of the reds is to defend the final third and stop blues from creating chances/scoring goals. Blues will just trying to score in the full size goal for realism and although the aim of the session is to coach the reds on defending the final third, if they do win the ball back they have 10 seconds to try and score in one of the mini goals, once the ball is dead another play will start once reds are reset. The main aim of the session is concentration, the reds are deliberately set up in banks of 4 to make it hard for the blues to break lines, the reds need to concentrate on their defensive shape and distances in order to make it hard for the blues to break lines

Block 1 - 5 minutes

During this block the blues will be managed to play through the central area through the number 10's or through the striker. Reds to be coached in the block to remain narrow and compact. Out of possession they should be aiming for all red players to be within the width of the 18 yard box to try to force the blues wide. The reds should also concentrate and the gap between the defensive block and the midfield block.. If the ball is played into one of the number 10's the closest midfielder should go to press the ball, communication at this stage will be vital and the other midfielders should narrow up further to eliminate the amount of space for the other blue players.

Block 2 - 5 Minutes

In this second block the blues will be managed to play the ball wide either side. The red full backs and wingers will be coached to press the ball together if the ball goes out to the blue winger on their side, once this happens it will be important for the defence to slide across and fill in the gap left behind and leave the furthest man. Will discuss pitch geography with the reds. Communication will be key and as red defenders are pulled to one side someone from the midfield block will be required to drop into the back line to act as cover. If reds are able to force the blues to play backwards the reds should reset to their original shape as quick as possible ready to defend as 2 banks of 4 again. Body position for the full backs defending will be key, again we want to protect the central areas so showing the wide blue players down the line will be advantageous for the reds.

Coaching Points

• Defend Narrow
• Body Position
• Press on trigger points (ball into 10 in block 1 and into wide player)
• Recover quickly into two banks of four.