Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Middle Third - Creating A High Press (Defending)

Warm-Up (15 mins)

Organization:

• Set up a middle zone that is about 10 yards apart. Overall area is 20 yards by 30 yards.
• Two defenders are in the middle zone and can only defend in the middle zone
• 4 attackers are in a diamond shot

Instructions:

• Objective for attacking team to score reaching the ball from one end to another
• Objective for defensive team is to re-possess the ball and score at either mini goal
• 10-15 minute exercise
• If you have subs, rotate the defenders

Coaching Points/Questions:

• Focus on the defensive portion of the activity - we are teaching the defenders
• How do we cut off passing lanes?
• How do we guard the wingers while staying compact to prevent the passing lane up the middle?
• Poke tackle versus tackle/possess - how do we score at the mini goal?

KPIs/Technical:

• KPIs:
  • Number of poke tackles won versus number of tackle/possess
  • Mini goals score - which results from a poke tackle versus tackle/possess?
• Technical:
  • Focus on poke tackle technique, when to use and not use
  • Players pressing the ball, tackle/possess

Regressions/Progressions:

• N/A

Conditioned Game (30 mins)

Organization:

• 75 by 45 yards space, create 3 zones that are 25 yards apart from each other. In other words, use the dimensions of a typical 9v9 field for the overall play area
• Balls are setup next to coach

Instructions:

• 2 teams as a 8v8 game. 
• Keep the 3 25-yard zone areas intact and ensure position players are playing their respective positions. The end zones should have the team's defensive line and opponent's two attacking players. The middle zone should have each team's 3 primary midfielders (6, 8, 10 - CDM, CM, CAM).
• All resets of play are side outs where the coach plays a new ball to the team that de-possess the opponent.
• Either team scores at their respective mini goal

Coaching Points/Questions:

• Focus on teaching defense!
• How do we press high while maintaining our defensive shape and stay compact?
• How do we cut off passing lanes to ensure either zone cannot switch the field?
• Space awareness:
  • When the opponent plays the ball wide to the sideline area, can our focus team recognize to press that player and create a 1v2 situation with the sideline being a third defender
  • When the opponent plays the ball within the middle of the middle third, our focus team needs to remain compact and play space instead of pressing the ball

KPIs/Technical:

KPIs:

• Measure the amount of de-possessions achieved on side outs when the players press the width

• Measure the amount of successful poke tackles achieved in the middle to de-possess the opponent

Technical:

• Poke tackle - used in the middle of the middle third

• Tackle/possess ball - used when pressing the ball to obtain possession from the opponent

Regressions/Progressions:

• Regression - N/A
• Progression - for team that is trying to score at mini goals - apply 3 consecutive passes rule before scoring at goal