Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): NM 2x parts defend the wide overload

Specific Practice (Problem 1)

Problem 1: Opposition using overload to isolate 

Managed team 

Setting up the problem:

Attacking team look to overload one side of the pitch by initially playing the ball wide, once the defenders are drawn in, through quick passing combinations they switch the ball to the isolated player on the far side.

Managing opposition:

Set positions are 6's & 9 in central space (9 in line with GK, 6's front and back post), 10's in the half space and wing-backs in wide space touching the sideline.

When ball played wide, nearest 6 moves into half space, far 6 and 9 moves in line with front post.

far 10 moves to position in line with GK, far wing-back moves into half space. 

Challenge: Challenge the attacking team to first draw in the opposition then use quick passing combinations to play the ball to the isolated player on the far side.

Target: Scoring through the isolated player = 3 goals.

Conditions: Attacking team have a 3 touch limit (until ball is played to isolated player, who has no touch limit).

Focus team:

 Solution: Organise into low block, Force play wide, lock play wide.

Defensive team reorganises into a 4 - 2 - 0 formation, the back 4 are challenged to stay 8-10yards apart, with the 6's sat 8-10 yards in-front of the back line. Using the reference point, the defensive team drops back into the low block.

When the ball goes wide to the winger, the wing-back engages, pressing an angle to close down passing lane (use sideline as second defender) with the back line shifting across as a unit. Leave the furthest player.  

Right 6 shuffling across to position infront & in-between 3 and 5, whilst left 6 shuffling across to position infront & in-between 5 and 4.

3 not to engage with 11, if overlap played, 3 engages with overlapping 6 whilst 6 engages 11. 10 to put pressure on 4 whilst 6 to mark opposite number to prevent 6 playing sideways or backwards. Attempt to force ball out of play using sideline as extra defender.

Defensive team not to man mark, but stay in defensive lines and block passing lanes centrally. 

Pitch Geography:

Back 5 not to push higher than their 18 yard box, emergency protection. When the ball played wide, wing-back to engage, LCB moving on line with 18 yard box line, CB at 6 yard line, RCB in line with GK and WB in line with 18 yard box line (other side). When ball switched, same routine at other side.

When ball left, nearest 6 in-front of LCB and far 6 in-front of CB, when ball right, nearest 6 in-front of RCB and far 6 in-front of CB. Maintain defensive lines.

Challenge: Challenge the back 4 to stay compact and maintain defensive lines, quick reactions to shift across together as a unit when ball is switched

Target: A point given each time the wing-backs win the ball from winger, or the ball goes out of play.

Conditions: Defensive team can only defend 3 zones of the pitch. If they win the ball, only 8 seconds to try to score.

Coaching points:

Small sided game (Problem 2)

Problem 2: Attacking team, drawing full back out wide and utilising underlap and overlap to create 2 vs 1.

Managed team 

Setting up the problem:

Attacking team challenged to push high. 6 starts with the ball and plays to wing-back who draws out full back. 10 makes an underlapping run whilst 6 makes an overlapping run. 3 plays to the spare player, who drives towards goal or plays a cross into the 18 yard box.

Managing opposition:

9 & 6's to start in the central space, 10's in the half-space, wing-backs in wide space.

to execute problem, 6 first to progress into half space, running past 10.

Wing-back to drop on edge of 18 yard line to receive. Simultaneously 10 then makes a underlapping run in the half space whilst 6 makes an overlapping run into the wide space.

9 to make a run at front post whilst far WB to make a run towards back post, 10 to make run at edge of 18 yard box.

Challenge: Challenge the attacking team to make move the ball quickly, with quick off the ball movement to execute the problem.

Target: Attacking team gain a point each time they managed to create a successful overlap or underlap.

Conditions: 3 touch limit for attacking team until the overlap/underlap completed (i.e player receives).

Focus team:

Solution - organise into defensive lines, force play wide, lock play wide.

Defensive 4 organise into defensive lines, narrow and compact to protect the middle. When the ball played to wing-back, defence shuffle across so nearest full back positioned centrally in wide space, 5 on the 18 yard box line to block underlap option, 4 in line with left 6 yard box line and 2 in line with GK.  

Right 6 shuffling across to position infront & in-between 3 and 5, whilst left 6 shuffling across to position infront & in-between 5 and 4.

3 not to engage with 11, just hold the line, if overlap played, 3 engages with overlapping 6 whilst nearest 6 engages 11. 10 to put pressure on 4 whilst 6 to mark opposite number to prevent 6 playing sideways or backwards. Attempt to force ball out of play using sideline as extra defender.

Challenge: Challenge the defensive team to keep compact but remain within defensive lines, blocking passing lanes and pressing on the trigger. Only to defend 3 areas of the pitch.

Target: If the ball goes out of play on the sideline, the team gains 2 points. If they can then score, the team wins 3 points.

Pitch Geography:

Starting positions upon being compact are 5 and 4 on front and back post with 2 and 3 positioned in the half space channel. 6's positioned on front and back post 10 yards infront of CB's, with 10 in line with GK.

Team to shuffle across into positions as explained above.

Coaching points:

Recognise opposition movement,

Press quickly,

Protect the middle,

Leave the furthest player