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Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Football Session - Defensive Principle of Cover

Profile Summary

Sam Greatorex
Name: Sam Greatorex
City: Canberra
Country: Australia
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Warm-Up - Grid play (15 mins)

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Warm-Up - Grid play (15 mins)
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Warm-Up - Grid play (15 mins)

ORGANISATION: 

  • 1x 20m by 10m box split in to 8 equal grid squares
  • One player in each box
  • 4 goals on the longer sideline, roughly 5m in from the short sideline

HOW TO PLAY:

  • Players are split in to two teams of 4 and separated by a halfway line from short edge to short edge
  • Players will stay in their boxes while on defence, the attacking side is split in half rather than quarters
  • Once the ball goes out or a goal is scored, possession changes sides

COACHING POINTS:

  • Defenders focus on cover, with a player up front and one behind defending the goal
  • Can the defenders communicate while the ball is moving to have a point and cover player
  • Making sure the attacking team has no clear attacking lines to either goals

CHANGE IT / PROGRESSIONS: 

  • Once the players are consistently defending remove a line separating players on each team, so attackers have free movement, and defenders are two to a half of their side of the field.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Cross the River (15 Minutes)

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Cross the River (15 Minutes)
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Cross the River (15 Minutes)

ORGANISATION: 

  • Two 15m by 7m boxes are separated by a 15m by 2m box
  • One team in each of the larger boxes, third team will be half in the small box and half defending the team with a ball 

HOW TO PLAY:

  • Players are split in to three teams, one in each larger box (the 'Shore') and one in the middle area (the 'River').
  • One of the Shore teams starts with the ball and must complete 5 passes while pressured by half of the River team.
  • Once five passes are completed the ball is passed through the middle to the other Shore team and the other half of the River team pressures
  • Swap the team in the River every 3 minutes

COACHING POINTS:

  • Outnumbered defenders must co-ordinate to try and win the ball
  • Ball will constantly be moving between Shore players, opening vulnerabilities that defenders can only exploit if not constantly pressing
  • The small area (relative to the number of players) makes a point player and cover player strategy possible

CHANGE IT / PROGRESSIONS: 

  • Allow resting players in the River to block the final pass to the other shore
  • Increase or decrease the number of passes required by the shore teams
  • Require the final pass to be along the ground or lofted to increase the difficulty for the Shore teams
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 5v4 Wave Game (20 mins)

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 5v4 Wave Game (20 mins)
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5v4 Wave Game (20 mins)

ORGANISATION:

  • Area set up centrally from the goals, 35m down the field and 50m across
  • Poles set up to show where attackers enter the play area
  • Players are split in to a single team of 4 defenders and sets of five attackers that will play in waves

HOW TO PLAY:

  • Goalkeeper will kick the ball to the attacking team who will then enter the play area

  • Defenders start behind the penalty spot and can move freely once the pass is received
  • Attackers can shoot from any part of the area, offside rule applies

COACHING POINTS:

Perception
  • How do I defend while outnumbered?

    • DELAY/PRESS
      • See pressing opportunities (bad touch, ball received facing away from goal, player with limited space)
    • COVER
      • Close off passing lanes from the player with the ball and mark area where opposition can create opportunities
    • BALANCE
      • Stay compact while ball is in central area but always have a player close off shooting option

Decision

  • Do I need to press or delay?  If I press, can I arc my run to block passing or shooting options?

  • If I delay, for how long and where do I direct the attacking player?
  • When covering, how close or far do I need to be from the point defender?  Where can I stand to maximise coverage of the field?

Execution

  • Press on mistakes from the opposition, when I can win the ball, or if I have run out of space to delay
  • Delay when able to direct the ballcarrier to a disadvantageous position
  • When covering, position to see the defender and ball at the same time and be able to move to either if needed
    • Look for running or passing lanes that the ball carrier could take and block those where possible
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 6v6+2 Game Defending while Outnumbered (25 mins)

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 6v6+2 Game Defending while Outnumbered (25 mins)
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6v6+2 Game Defending while Outnumbered (25 mins)

ORGANISATION:

  • Half field set up with a goal at the halfway line
  • Players are split in to two even teams, with two players as jokers (always on the attacking team)

HOW TO PLAY:

  • Game played as normal, except any ball over the goal line is played from the closest keeper
  • Jokers can't shoot on goals but otherwise play as normal

COACHING POINTS:

Perception

  • Defenders are always outnumbered, so delay should be first option

  • Push attackers out wide while keeping a compressed central defence
  • Communication is key, who is covering which player/area, who is pressing
  • Don't expand the structure out too far, as this will leave us vulnerable to numbers in the box

Decision Making

  • When should I press and tackle
  • Where should I position myself to cover more attacking options
  • Am I focussing too much on where the ball is rather than where is most dangerous for it to go

Execution

  • Can I see the ball and the attacker without moving
  • Cover the central area as it is most dangerous
  • Player moves to the attacker with the ball, other defenders cover as much area as possible
  • Always head check, back post, front post, penalty spot, corners of the box
  • CHANGE IT / PROGRESSIONS:
  • Change size of pitch
  • Include minimum touch limit
  • Two touches only in your own half

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