Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Midfield Players Defending Centrally in the Oppositions Half (Start Time: 2022-03-06 23:35:00)

Session Set Up

Method:

Introduce myself to the group and explain what topic I am going to cover.

Use tactics board firstly to show how we are going to set up formations for both teams.

Then going to go through the main key points we want to work on today in my session.

Clarify with players main points lead with open answers to see if the players understand before commencing.

Ask if there are any questions and if they have any questions throughout the session to not to be afraid to ask ” No such thing as a bad question”

Coaching Points:

Let them play for the first few minutes to see what positives and negatives you can use when you start to coach.

See if players are using the correct decisions on when to apply pressure.

See if they can execute what you have explained on the tactics board before the session commenced. 

Phase 1

Method: 

Identify and establish the line of pressure.

Blue team are using the blue line or edge of the 18th year box as the pressure line. This means when the ball passes this line the defending team (Blue) start to commence pressure on the opposition.

Coaching Points:

Keeper starts with pass to red CB.

9 Blue arcs run to prevent the ball travelling to opposite CB while also forcing the play wide.

Rest of midfield are using this pressure as a Q for them to start pressing and cut off passes into centre of pitch.

When the RED team have the ball the BLUE team have to work together as a team. When the ball is moved from one side of the pitch to the other the BLUE team move together as a team to close gaps between the lines.

Opposition’s role is build up from the back with emphasis on creating chances coming from the central area of the pitch.

Phase 3

Method:

Open play allowing both teams to play the game using the coaching points that you have focused on throughout the session from start to finish.

Allowing the players enough time to get a chance to implement all they have learned in the session in a game situation.

Make it game realistic as much as possible,

End goal is that BLUE team pressing becoming narrow and compact thus winning the ball back and transition to attack to score.

Coaching Points:

Only giving encouragement and use” coaching in the flow to give individual coaching points to the player but making sure the game is still playing.