Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Pressing in a 4-4-2 Mid-Block

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Name:	Jack Dickhausen
City:	Denver
Country:	United States of America
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Over the River

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Learning Objectives

	Technical Pressing team: Tackle technique and interception anticipation In-possession team: First touch, pass appreciation, and decision making
	Tactical Focus of the pressing team is to recognize when to press the ball and when to defend the space. One should press and one should drop off to prevent the ball from being played between them. Force play one direction so the 2 mids behind them are able to anticipate and shuffle accordingly to block passing lanes.
	Physical Work rate of pressing team and quickness with change of direction
	Social Communication between the pressing pairs.

Over the River (20 mins)

Three teams of four are created with two in-possession teams in either end box, plus a defending team. The in-possession teams should be set up modelling a back four in a condensed area (size depending on the level of the players). Their aim is to connect a pre-determined number of passes before switching the ball to the opposite box.

The defending team works in pairs, with two players pressing in one end box and two occupying the middle box. When the ball is switched, the pairs switch roles.

The aim of the defending players is to not allow the ball to be advanced to the opposite box. One team defends for three minutes before switching with another team. The defending team that allows the fewest switches of play is the winner.

The focus of the forwards should be when to press the ball and when to defend the space. They should use counter-movements, with one pressing the ball and the other dropping off to prevent the ball from being played between them. When they press, they should make the press predictable to allow their midfielders to shift behind them accordingly.

The “midfielders” in the middle box, who can intercept, should be active and moving with the ball. They too should have staggered positioning to prevent the ball from being played between them. If the ball is transferred to the box behind them, they should react and enter the box quickly.

The rondo can be progressed with, instead of timed periods of defending, transitional defending. If the pressing team wins the ball, they switch it to the other box. The dispossessed team then transitions to become the defending team. This forces the players to react quickly to losing the ball and arrange their defensive shape in “live mode”.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 6v6 Rondo with Mini Goals

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6v6 Rondo with Mini Goals (20 mins)

This second rondo focuses on the midfield and how they move and react when exposed by the first line of pressure being breached.

The twelve players are now split into two teams of six. Four midfielders occupy their own central box with the two forwards in the end zones. The aim of the in-possession team is to advance the ball to their forwards who must score into either of the two mini-goals. The aim of the defending team is to block through balls and react quickly to any regain of possession, playing forward at the first opportunity.

The middle zone players can only take two touches, to create a fast speed of play, with the end players having one touch each. All the players, both in and out of possession, must remain within their zones.

The focus of the defending team should be to shift laterally and stagger their positioning. If done correctly, this will prevent any passes from being played between them. The ball-near player should step towards the ball, when able to securely do so, with the players beside him dropping off. This allows them to cover a lot more width, whilst not allowing balls to be played between them, than they could if in the same horizontal line.

The key is to promote patience and synchronization. Every player is involved in the defensive structure and any player acting alone, or not doing their assigned job, will cause gaps to appear.

This rondo can be progressed by adding width and players being free to move between different zones. Full-size goals and goalkeepers can be introduced and the rondo turned into a small-side conditioned game.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Themed SSG

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Themed SSG (15 mins)

Rondo progressed by adding width and players being free to move between different zones. Full-size goals and goalkeepers can be introduced and the rondo turned into a small-side conditioned game.

Blue 9's have 2 touches to set each other and/score against the goalkeeper. If too easy for the players then one of the defenders can add a recovery run once the ball is played into the 9's

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