Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Mid-block defending

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Ciaran Carmichael

Profile Summary

Name:	Ciaran Carmichael
City:	Glasgow
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

This session works on defending in a mid-block. Core principles:

Protect the middle: we are compact horizontally and vertically. Teams go around not through
Set traps and look for triggers: we look to make play predictable and look out for certain conditions to press aggressively
Patience and discipline: we need to be comfortable surrendering possession at times, staying compact and looking to engage at the right time

Ideally, the session should start with SAQs to get team to work on the sharp forward, backward and lateral movements needed for effective mid-block defending. We can then move into basic shape without the ball before game-related practices and conditioned games.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): SAQs lateral movement

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SAQs lateral movement (10 mins)

Set up

As shown above

Instructions

Run through cones in order as shown
Hips facing forward at all times with exception of 'turn and run' in T-test and Y-drill

Coaching points

Explosive speed
Short strides
Balls of feet
Low centre of gravity / get low
Arms out for balance

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 2 vs 2s mini goal game

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2 vs 2s mini goal game (15 mins)

Set up

Two areas of roughly 20 x 30 yards
Mini goals at either side (or large cones or poles)
Teams split into four team diagonally opposite as shown
Balls loaded at one corner of each area

Instructions

Red team plays diagonal pass to blue team
Blue team aim to score into opposite mini goal
Red team out to press and prevent blue team from scoring
One point for goal
One point for winning possession and putting out of play
Two points for winning possession and scoring in opposite goal

Coaching points

Delay
Deny
Divert
Pressure and cover
Protect the middle / goal

Progressions / adaptations

Make area larger
Limit touches
Go to 3 vs 3 if needed

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Shape principles

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Shape principles (5 mins)

Set up

Four different coloured cones across the width of the park
Red cones approximately 20 yards away from coloured cones

Instructions

Players start on red cones
Shout colour of cone
Players run out to defend against cone taking up a compact horizontal structure as shown
Remind players of principles of pressure and cover
Continue to shout different coloured cones to get players to shuffle across
Shout 'squeeze' to get players to sprint forward as a unit and allow next group of four to go

Coaching points

Communication and key words
Pressure and cover
Moving as a unit

Progressions / adaptations

Start two groups at the same time, getting them to mimic defensive and midfield units

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Three zone possession transfer game

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Three zone possession transfer game (15 mins)

Set up

30 x 40 yard area split into 2 x 30 x 16 yard areas on outside with 30 x 8 yard area in middle. Mark out using flat markers
Split teams equally

Instructions

In possession (blue) complete set number of passes (3-5) before transferring to opposite zone (to greens)
If those pressing win possession (yellow), they transfer to opposite side (greens) and blues are now team out of possession
Limit number of players that can press in blue zone
Can alter total players and playing area

Coaching points

Out of possession

Discipline and patience
Move as a unit
Compact
Speed and intensity of press
Set traps
Look for triggers to press (e.g., poor pass, hesitation, weak foot)
Scanning and awareness
Communication and key words
Discipline and patience

In possession:

Create overloads
Third man combinations
Ball control
Aggressive defensive transition
Receiving skills
Ball speed, back foot, body shape, break lines
Opposites
Communication and awareness

Progressions / adaptations

Remove pass restrictions
Remove limits on how many can press
Limit touches

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Mid-block to counter game-related practice

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Mid-block to counter game-related practice (15 mins)

Set up

Three equal teams plus GK
Mark out area using markers / cones, creating middle section

Instructions

Ball starts with GK who passes to blue teammate
Blues attempt to pass ball to green team and then to green team GK for one point
Yellow team shuffle across and send 1-2 players in to press
If yellow team wins possession, they quickly counter and try to score
If the yellow team score, the team they score against is now out of possession and play will restart from opposite end

Coaching points

Out of possession

Move as a unit
Compact
Speed and intensity of press
Set traps
Look for triggers to press (e.g., poor pass, hesitation)
Scanning and awareness
Communication and key words
Discipline and patience

In possession:

Create overloads
Third man combinations
Ball control
Aggressive defensive transition
Receiving skills
Ball speed, back foot, body shape, break lines
Opposites
Communication and awareness

Progressions / adaptations

Remove limits on how many can press
Limit touches
Must score within ten seconds of winning possession

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Mid-block SSCG

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Mid-block SSCG (20 mins)

Set up

Mark out area using cones / flat markers as shown
Split playing area into a middle zone (horizontally) as used in previous drills and roughly three equal sized vertical zones

Instructions

Normal game rules
Encourage team out of possession to occupy two vertical zones (i.e., staying compact) and move as a unit to block

Coaching points

Out of possession

Move as a unit
Compact
Speed and intensity of press
Set traps
Look for triggers to press (e.g., poor pass, hesitation)
Scanning and awareness
Communication and key words
Discipline and patience

In possession:

Create overloads
Third man combinations
Ball control
Aggressive defensive transition
Receiving skills
Ball speed, back foot, body shape, break lines
Opposites
Communication and awareness

Progressions / adaptations

Limit touches
Ball stays below head height to ensure build through the thirds

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