Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending V Attacking

Screen 1

Players on the outside

Defenders in the middle

Defenders need to work together to try and win the ball back as quickly as possible

Players on the outside must try and keep the ball away from the defenders

If the defenders win the ball then they swap with the player who lost the ball, and the player to their right or left

The focus is on defending in pairs, who presses and who cuts off passing lanes.

Make it challenging on the outside so you can have more success with the defending team

Key points for defenders:

Communication

Angle of run

Dictating Play

Pressure versus holding the line

1st man in, and 2nd covering

cutting off passing lanes

Give the defenders a target time in which to win it back, start with 10 seconds and change how you see fit

Or don't let the attackers get 15 passes etc.

Challenges for players on outside:

Must take 2 touches

3 touches max

Can play to the person either side of you

If you get a short pass, next one must be a long pass

Screen 3

Defending as a unit (Can be done with any number)

5v5v5

Two teams start in the outside boxes(attackers)

One team starts in the middle box(defenders)

The defenders and attackers are not allowed to leave their boxes

Aim

Defenders need to stop the attackers from playing the ball from one box to the other(no balls over the top)

Defenders need to work as a unit to stop the switch in play.

Keep the defenders in the middle for 2 minutes, and then swap them with another group.

Key Points

Closest player to the ball presses (goes quick)

Other players cover and stop passing lanes (drop and angle yourself)

Body position (show towards touchline on help)

Let them play infront of you

Move across as a Unit

Communication

Screen 5

Defending from the front  (With overload)

Reds= Attackers

Blues= Defenders

Black= Neutral

Steps

Split pitch into 3

Defenders have the stay in thair area

GK plays to one of thier CB's

CB's then need to try and work the ball forward, and so on.

If a player makes a pass into then next third, then can go an join the attack in that box (creates overload)

Defending team need to stop the attackers from playing forward and trying to score

If defenders win it back, can they transition forward to try and score (nutural joins their team)

Key Points

ST - pick a CB and stand on them (only gives one option)

Cut the pitch in half (angle run to ball)

CM's- Stay tight to the attacking CM's

Force them into a bad touch (can you win it back high)

Communication, who presses, working in a unit, moving side to side

Where do we show the play (out wide)

How do we defend the overload? (decision making)

CB's - Can we force the strikers to play backwards (away from goal)

Can we force them out wide

Can we delay the attackers (body possition) (realistic/ link to game, midfield recovery runs)

GK- Communication so players know who they are marking and what else is going on during the game.

Progression

Attacking players can dribble into the next third to join in

Defenders have 10 seconds to score if they win it

Attackers only have 6 seconds to get a shot off on goal (improtance of delaying the attack)