Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): UEFA B Session: Preventing switch of play - Out of possession

Specific Practice (10 mins)

Organisation:

18 Players (green goalkeeper to be a server in the specific practice, then becomes a goalkeeper in game)

18 bibs, (8 for each team, yellow and blue, goalkeepers in separate colours.)

Cones to mark area where balls will start.

3 goals to simulate areas where the strikers in blue would be. (these will then be removed for a bigger goal in the Small sided game)

Balls by blue teams goal as well as in the marked area.

Area:

1/2 pitch, distance depending on field, 50x60m as a default.

How:

Blue team attempt to play out from the back and move the ball into the target player in green/score a goal.

Yellow team attempts to put pressure on the ball, showing outside and trying to stop the switch of play, trying to win the ball back as high up as possible and score.

Balls can be played in from red team into keeper to make the play not start from dead ball. Blue team then looks to build out as usual. If ball goes dead from a yellow shot, play will then start from goal kick.

Physical considerations:

Stress that all players has to get into position before play is started, since pressing high and aggressive is very physically demanding. According to Strudwick (2016) it can take up to 51-61 seconds for a player to be recovered from a maximal effort action. Resting can usually be done actively, in actions such as walking, jogging or running, which can all be done to get back into position.

Progressions, Targets, Challenges & Conditions

Targets: Blues: Getting the ball to the mini goal is 1 point, middle one is 3 points.

Progression: switch the ball (twice if dominating) and then getting it to the target is 3 points.

Yellow: winning the ball high and scoring withing 7 seconds (opponent half, 10 seconds own half) is 2 points.

Regression/condition: 2 touches minimum on the ball for the team on the ball.

Condition: Blue team have to score in the opposite or middle goal, unless completing 2 switches first, in which case they can score in either (if very successful).

Challenge: Win the ball within 7 seconds of keeper release, as was the standard for the FIFA women’s world cup for bonus point, which has been found by FIFA (2019) that teams that have moved their team high up the pitch had an average of 7 seconds to win the ball back after loosing it.

Principles:

Force direction

Defend narrow – or example, as found in the FIFA (2018) technical report from the world cup the average width between players when out of possession were a mere 32 meters, which will further emphasise to keep narrow and compact, despite playing a different formation.

Leave the furthest man

Stop the switch.

Principles for GK:

Stay in relation to the ball

Ensure players travel across

Force wide

Keep narrow shape.

Sub-Principles:

Make the pitch big

Who can switch?

Speed of switch

Wide rotation

Blocks & timings:

2 minutes – introduction and walkthrough.

Block 1 – 2.5 min – Concurrent feedback,

Terminal 1: 60 seconds – reminder of principles/intervention if needed

Block 2: 2.5 min – Concurrent feedback.

2 min – Transition – reminder of principles both teams.

Block 3: 4 min– Coaching process/concurrent

Terminal 2: 90 secs – Intervention.

Block 4: 4 min– Concurrent

Terminal 3: 90 seconds Introduce scenario – 1-1 world cup final. US vs Netherlands.

Block 5: 4 min– Concurrent.

Full Field

1-3-5-2 defending using high pressure vs 1-4-4-2 who's looking to play out from the back, with positions marked on the field.

Reference list:

Strudwick, T., (2016), Soccer science, Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics

FIFA, (2018), Technical Report 2018 FIFA world cup Russia, Available at: https://unilearn.southwales.ac.uk/bbcswebdav/pid-3811551-dt-content-rid-4260512_1/courses/SR3D007F_2019_v1/FIFA%20Technical%20Report%20-%20Russia%20WC%202018.pdf [Accessed: 09-01-2020]

FIFA, (2019), Technical Report, FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019, Available at: https://img.fifa.com/image/upload/lnpeuvaoc1v5tih9rf7p.pdf [Accessed: 09-01-2020]