Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): (Pro Dev) Defensive Balance & Compactness
Premier Users' Club
Alex Sabatini
Build 3D sessions in seconds
Access to 1000’s of sessions
Professionalise and modernise your coaching
Used by the world’s best coaches
US$
85
per year
Join today
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Build 3D sessions in seconds
Access to 1000’s of sessions
Professionalise and modernise your coaching
Used by the world’s best coaches
US$
85
per year
Join today
Play animation
Play step-by-step
Repeat (toggle)
Full Screen
Pause
Stop
Defensive Balance & Compactness
Practice organisation
-Area 30x15yds, divided into 2 grids of equal size, as illustrated.
-8 Players (incl. 2 Target players), 1 ball.
-Players arranged 2v1 in each grid, with T’s at each end of practice area.
-Practice starts with: T feeds ball into team mates, who are not allowed to rebound ball back.
-Defender presses ball & is supported by a team mate from opposite geid, to increase defensive numbers
-Team in possession look to retain ball, transfer possession forwards to support player, looking to receive, turn & supply T player at opposite end.
Detail
-Rotate players frequently to retain defensive intensity.
-Speed & angle of approach.
-Mental concentration & alertness.
-When pressing: body shape; head still; see ball; good balance & footwork
-See man & ball
-Block stance in front of ball & blocking with correct foot.
-Composure & no fouling
-Defensive support from players behind: where, when & how to press & mark.
-Simple progressions for this practice are:
-- Introduce additional box in middle with 4 extra players, organised 2v2.
-- T’s can pass anywhere into practice area
Key Coaching Points
-Where, when & how to initially press ball.
-Quick support from supporting D’s to pressurise.
-Communication & adjustment to positions in relation to ball
-Looking interceptions
-Forcing errors from the man on ball.