Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Defending Zone 1 / 2 Centrally, Using CM and FWs (D11)

Warm Up - Movement Prep (FIFA) (10 mins)

Organization:

-Cones placed 5 meters a part for a total of 20 meters

-Movements at 50 %,increase load/% as you progress

-Movements will be done 2x each, except jog (3x) and accelerations (2x)

Continuous Movement (Phase 1)

-Jog

-Jog/back-peddle alternating

-High knees

-Butt kicks

-Shuffling

-Karaoke

-Wrap Around

Dynamic movements (Phase 2)

-Skip

-Open the gate

-Close the gate

-Double step leg kicks

-Leg Swings/Opposite Hands

-Kick and twist

Warm Up - Technical (1v1/2v2) (10 mins)

Set Up:

Area is split into 3 sections. The wide areas are 1v1 zones for full backs vs wide players. The central zone is 2v2.

Instructions:

In wide areas, attacker (white) plays to defender, defender 'gives ball away' to attacker & we go live 1v1. Attacker can score by scoring in the mini goal or by getting past defender & producing a cross. Defender scores by passing ball to other attacker waiting.

Centrally, sequnce begins in the same way, now we go 2v2 to goal.

Coaching Points:

1v1 in wide areas:

- Prevent pass into striker centrally (represented by the shot into mini goal)

- Always force player wide (look at body position)

- Can defender engage attacker & win ball - get bum/body/arm across attacker when possible to gain possession

- Maximum success afforded attacker is a crossed ball, never let the central pass happen.

2v2 centrally

- Closest player always closes ball down to delay

- 2nd defender supports, communicates

- If ball is passed, defenders switch roles with initial defender recovering (don't let attacker see your number)

- Always force wide

Analytical #1 - 7v5+1 (15 mins)

Set Up;

Red team (coached) set up 3 CM (6+8) and (10) 2 WMF (7+11) and 1 Striker (9)

Blue team set up GK, back 4 and 3 CM

Pitched coned off and moved in 5 yards each side.

Key Coaching Points;

- High press is triggered by number 9, he must press the ball quickly and send the defender wide.

- Closest player applies first pressure. Can they win the ball?

- Shape of run (arch) to force the ball a certain way.

- If a full back gets on ball we want to push them inside into traffic. (or wide if right on the touch line).

- Opposite winger tucks in to compact field when defending (as shown in diagram).

- Number 10 pushes hard onto there deepest midfield player.

- All players must work hard together, try and win ball within 8 seconds.

- If we dont win it and blues begin to play out we recover into position.

- Communication, who to press, where to press.

Add full-backs to reds and wingers to blue if needed (depending on numbers). (15-20 players)