Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending When out of balance

Best Practice (25 mins)

2 balls moving simultaneously. Play starts by the first player coming short as if to receive (2). The player in possession (1) ignores him and plays the furthest player (3). Who sets back to player (2) he then plays into player (4). Player (1) after playing the 1st pass sets off on a over-lapping/support run and receives off player (4) player (1) then plays back to (4) who plays across the square and starts the sequence off again.

Progressions

Bounce the ball off player (2) so player (1) supports then plays to (3)

Coaching Points

Weight of pass

Body shape

Supporting runs

Supporting player

Clearing space (2) and (3)

Quality of pass

Outnumbered (30 mins)

Description

Area as illustrated

ask defending team to defend own half using principle of defence

Objective for attacking team is play the ball into the feet of the lone striker

Objective for defending team is to keep play infront of them and defend own half

Once ball is played into strikers feet play stops and is restartedby the coach

Play in 4-5 min intervals and swap players around to ensure understanding

Technical

Deny space and time, look at angles of approach and body shape

Delay, hold to give others time to support

Deflect- make play predictable, screen forward passing lanes

Defend- tackle, intercept, spoil

Tactical

Defend as an individual and unit using these principles:

1.Delay - The ability to prevent the ball from being played forward quickly. A pressuring player needs to reduce the time and space of the attacker to prevent the ball being played forward. This is especially important when outnumbered to allow the team to re-shape to a loss in possession appropriately.

2.Depth - Reduce the space behind the pressuing player. Provide support in defence. These players do not provide pressure on the ball but instead support the challenging player. Their relative position to the pressuring player is dependent on the situation and part of the field they are supporting the player in. Defensive support is generally much tighter than attacking support.

3.Concentration/Compactness - The movement of players to concentrate into an area of the field vunerable to scoring opportunities. Most teams generally drop on loss of possession and recover towards their own goal. Players should make runs back towards their own goal and goal side of the ball if desired.

4.Balance - In order to cancel the threat of mobility provided by the attackers, balance is required by the defending team to retain defensive shape. Balancing is an extension of delay and support. Balancing players provide additional support. Be prepared to leave weak side attacking players unmarked to balance the strong side of the field.

5.Discipline/Patience - Defending players need to be patient and assess the risk involved in challenging for the ball. A well structured defending line can quickly become disorganzied with one rash challenge. Players need to exercise control and restraint and re-adjust their shape to changing scenarios. Players also need to be alert to their surroundings at all times (switched on!).

6.Predictability - Defensive movements should encourage/force the attacking team to play into certain areas of the field. Channeling play into particular well defended areas or less important areas of the field makes play predictable and increase our chances of regaining possession or decreases goal scoring threats.

Psychological/Social

Concentration- switch on be prepared to defend, recover and slide with play

Control- Stand up jockey, screen, be patient and dont over commit

Communication- organise verbally to keep defensive shape

Confidence- Be positive, can you get the ball if not delay and make play predictable

Commitment- Defend as a team and an individual

Learning Objectives

1.To develop understanding of the Defending Principles of Play.

2.To develop an understanding of Delay, Depth, Concentration (Compaction), Balance, Discipline/Patience in the defending phase.