Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending The counter - Conditioned Game - 18 Players

Screen 1

• Organisation
• 1/4 Pitch 18 Players with edges cut off
• Set up the area as seen above with the Yellow team playing in a 1-4-3-1 formation vs the Blues in a 1-2-3-1 formation. There are 3-4
• Coaches (if possible) situated in different locations to feed a ball on the restart from different areas of the pitch
• There are 3-4 Coaches (if possible) situated in different locations to feed a ball on the restart from different positions.

• The Yellow team always start with the ball, with the Blues defending their goal by remaining compact and looking to win possession.
• Upon winning possession, the Blue team must look to play to the Striker and score as quickly as possible, creating a counter attacking moment.
• If the Blue team's counter-attack isn't successful, allow both teams to regain their shape to set the scene again with one of the coaches giving the Yellow team the ball again in a different area of the pitch.
• Adapt the formations to best suit your team

Coaching Points

• When pressing the ball, players must look to get in line with the ball quickly and use straight-line runs to get down the line of the ball. Players should apply the Speed Up, Slow down, Sit down and Show technique.
• When delaying an Attacker, Defenders should stay between the ball and their goal, get low by behind their hips and knees in addition to being on the balls of their feet which will allow them to match the footwork of the Attacker.
• When recovering, players should use straight-line runs as this is the fastest way to goal. When recovering centrally they should recover to the middle of the goal and towards the closest goalpost when recovering from wide areas.
• Covering players should get into positions slightly deeper than the first Defender and at an angle where they can see the player with the ball, the Defender and any passing options around the ball. The covering Defender should be ready to engage the player with the ball if the Defender is beaten or becomes the player closest to the ball