Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending Zone 14 (4-2-3-1)

Profile Summary

Name:	Ashley Williams
City:	newtown
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Overall Set Up

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Overall Set Up

Organisation

Function is set out in the red lines.

Zone 14 is marked out by the shaded area.

SSG is marked out by the blue lines.

Zone 14 will stay in place for the SSG.

Overall Players: 17

Function: 12

SSG: 17

Offside Rule Applies

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Function

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Function

Coached Team : Red team

Reds: GK, Two CB's, Two Screens, One Target Player (6 players)

Blues: Two Servers, Two CM's, Two CFs. (6 players)

Play will start from one of the two Blue servers who play into a Blue CM and the play progresses from there.

Instructions

Reds: Stop the blues entering Zone 14, If they do, force them out, win the ball back, or prevent shot on goal.

Blues: Play through Zone 14 and get a shot on goal.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Coaching Points

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Coaching Points

1 - Nearest Screen presses the ball. Shows outside if possible - pressing away from Zone 14 - away to the flanks. How? Fast then slow upon approach, bend knees, body shape forcing away from Zone 14 not allowing pass inside, touch tight if possible

2 - Second Screen shuffles across and drops deeper than First Screen. Preventing split pass forwards into striker. Checking Shoulder/Scanning to see where opposition Strikers are. In Between Ball and Man.

3 - CB's can squeeze up the pitch and get tight. Nearest CB - First Screen is blocking Pass down the outside, so CB can mark on ballside/goalside shoulder, ready to threaten an interception . Furthest CB, Second Screen is blocking inside pass, so CB can mark outside shoulder.

4 - If ball is then played to opposite CM - Second Screen becomes first screen and shuffles across then presses the ball - showing outside if possible. First screen then becomes second screen so must drop deeper and shuffle across to prevent split forward pass into strikers feet. CB's adjust their positions accordingly, with nearest CB marking on the outside shoulder.

5 - Communication - This is vital. If Screens aren't in the right place then CB's can see the whole picture, so they need to talk to the screens (right shoulder, left shoulder, drop, squeeze). Communication will make everything a lot easier.

6. Why not allow MF to show inside where there's cover? Most goals are scored from within Zone 14, therefore forcing play outside of Zone 14 should reduce the risk of conceding a goal - especially at U14's where GK's generally are proportiantely small to the goal. Therefore force outside - even though there should always be a covering MF/CB in place.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Progression

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Progression

Same set up as before but now add 2 more blue servers and allow the ball to played around the edge of Zone 14 before playing the ball to a blue player within Zone 14.

Once the ball has been played in, the ball cannot be played outside of Zone 14 except by the red players to the Red target player.

In the above example:

Effect Red Right CB - first job is touch tight and not to allow Blue CF to turn or shoot. Press and hold player up. Be strong.

Effect Red Left CB - trigger - as the ball is played in - drop to provide central cover in case Blue CF gets past Red Right CB. Also to threaten pass to opposite CF.

Effect Red No.8 - Arced run to threaten pass to Blue MF player and also to double press. If ball is passed to Blue MF, must close down Blue MF to stop shot - touch tight.

Effect Red No.6 - Drop off into central position to close down passing line to Blue MF.

REMEMBER - think about your positioning - cover and threaten passing line.

Coaching Points

Red players must constantly adjust their position as the ball is moved around the edge of Zone 14.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): SSG

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SSG

Organisation

Split players into 2 teams 8 Red (4-2-1) and 9 Blue (2-4-2) (17 players - although can reduce to 15 if need be - see below)

Mark Zone 14 as above.

Instructions

Blue team will score 2 goals if they score by playing through Zone 14.

Red team are to score within 20 seconds

Coaching Points

Defensive 4 to remain compact and apply pressure on Striker and No 10 if ball is received in Zone 14.

Distance between Def and twin screen is key as if too big, gaps will appear which Blue team will be able to play through. Distance between twin screen also key to stop ball into zone 14. Twin screen objective is to show attacking midfielders away from zone 14. If ball is successfull in getting into zone 14, can twin screen apply pressure from the front to steal ball and counter attack - How? Utilising LB/RB where possible.

If only a thrid of a pitch is available, ensure the width is equivalent to the width of the penalty area plus 5 yards either side. Length? as above and play blue team in a 2-2-2.