Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Possession/Penetration/Aggresive Defending

Open up to pass forward - Technical

Organization:

30x20 yard area - broke down to six 10x10 yard square

Two working areas - number of players can vary

Instructions:

First sequence - 1-2 touch open up body to play forward - all passes made on a angle

Second sequence - up, back, through - again passes made on angles

Coaching Points:

Movement away before checking in to receive the ball

Aawrness - look ahead to where you wish to play next

First touch - Ability to open up your body and move in a forward direction with the ball

Quality and direction of pass - set the next player up to play

Weight of pass - ball through must be weighted correctly

Pass with one touch when able - well weighted accurate ball into player

Last player on the end must receive the ball on the move

SSG 9v9 - Aggresive Defending (Retention Lines)

Organization:

84 x 54 with retention lines 23 yards from each goal - sizes can be adpated based on numbers or age

9v9 set up in a 1-3-3-3

Games are 7 or 8 mins long and should be high intensity - 2mins rest/discussion

Normal re-start rules apply - throw ins, corners, goal kicks etc.

Instructions:

When the goalkeeper has possession the attacking team must retreat outside the retention line.

The team building out must recieve the first pass under the retention line.

The defending group must press the first pass.

Coaching Points:

Forward Defending - getting connected before closing

Two forwards run at the ball to rush the player in possession - good angle and speed to force play into agreed areas

The team slides over to one side of the field giving up the weakside

The third forward has to takeawy both passes in front of the CDM and be ready to close the GK

Fore checking - CM's and FB's must be ready to step in and intercept passes

Backline shifts over to allow one player (RB in diagram) to step higher - defenders must be comfortable defending 1v1 if the attacking team plays long.

Throw ins - team shifts over to cut the field in half and create numerical advantage on that side of the field - fore checking again should be coached to ensure players are aggressively looking to intercept the ball