Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending in the Attacking Half

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Shane McFaul

Profile Summary

Name:	Shane McFaul
City:	CENTENNIAL
Country:	United States of America
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Defending

5 W's

What ( Game Model) - Denying Build Up from GK

Where ( Location / Phase ) - Attacking Half (Preventing Build Up)

When ( Moment of the Game ) - Opponent's GK is in possession

Who ( Focus Players) - Mid & Front Line

Why ( Objective) - Regain the ball, prevent the opponent from playing forward, deny penetration from dribble

Main Principle 1 : CREATE DEFENDING SHAPE

Sub Principle 1 : Make team compact, vertical and horizontal

Main Principle 2 : BUILD PRESSURE ON THE BALL

Sub Principle 2 : Move as a collective unit, make play predictable

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Warm Up

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Warm Up (20 mins)

20 minutes

Warm Up

4v1 - (4v2) 3 Zone Rondo

Grid : L 12 yards x W 12 yards

Intervals: 1 minute work 1 minute rest

10 rounds (each defending player stays in for 1 minute x2 times )

Rules
4 Red attacking players aim to transition from Zones A → B → C by keeping possession of the ball away from the 1 Blue defending player

When in Zone C , the attacking players aim to score in the mini goal

Play starts with a ball in Zone A

4 Red players connect a minimum of 1 pass in each zone before moving into the next zone when the timing is right

Only after completing a pass , Red players can enter the next zone to receive a pass. When in possession after completing a pass, Red can dribble into the next zone
When in Zone C , players can score immediately

Blue player can go defend in next zone after Red complete pass if they want
Defenders create a defensive shape and aim to deny the build towards the mini goal behind Zone C
When Defender wins the ball in any Zone, they aim to counter attack quickly to score in mini goal behind Zone A

Scoring

1 extra point for getting into each new zone

1pt for getting from Zone A → B

2 pts for getting from B → C

3 points for scoring in Mini Goal behind Zone C

3 points for defending team when they score in mini goal behind Zone A

Coaching Points

-Deny penetrating passes that break defensive lines or into the target area

-Players need to re-apply pressure the player on the ball quickly before they can pick their head up and play forward

Player Actions

- Travel as the ball travels, so they arrive as the ball arrives

- Close the ball quickly to deny passing lanes

- Deny forward passing lanes by checking their shoulder to see the runs of the opponent behind them

- Recover quickly to get back into defensive shape

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Activity 1

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Activity 1 (30 mins)

30 mins

6v3 to 4v2

Grid : L 35 yards x W 45 yards + Target Zone L 10 yards x 45 W

Intervals : 4 x 5 mins work - 2 mins rest

Rules

Play always starts with the goalkeeper who is in general possession situated centrally and playing with the Red Attacking Team

Attacking Red Team attempt to progress the ball from Zone A → B through a pass or dribble and connect from there to the target player in Zone C or score in a mini goal

3 Attacking Red players can go from Zone A → B to make a 4v2
When Red score in a mini goal , they now transition to defend as a second ball is played from the coach to the target player who now plays with the blue team as the game opens up and they aim to score in the big goal
When Red Team play into the Target player, the game opens up and they now transition to defend as the target player now plays with the blue team to score in the big goal

Defending team create a Defensive Shape to deny the build up from the GK and counter attack to score in the big goal

Defending Blue team cannot go from Zone A → B to defend or from Zone B → C to tackle target player

When Defending Blue team wins the ball in Zone B , game then opens up into a 6v5 game as Blue team try to score in the big goal

If the Red team has no goalkeeper - set up mini goals in the corner of the big goal for Blue players to score in

Swap Blue, Red & Target player around after each interval

Coaching Points

-Deny penetrating passes that break defensive lines or into the target area

-Players need to re-apply pressure the player on the ball quickly before they can pick their head up and play forward

Player Actions

- Travel as the ball travels, so they arrive as the ball arrives

- Close the ball quickly to deny passing lanes

- Deny forward passing lanes by checking their shoulder to see the runs of the opponent behind them

- Recover quickly to get back into defensive shape

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Activity 2

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Activity 2 (30 mins)

30 mins

7v5

Intervals : 3 x 6 mins work - 2 - 3 mins rest

Rules

Blue Attacking Team starts the play with the coach passing to goalkeeper who is positioned centrally on his 6 yard line and aim to progress the ball to score in one of the mini goals

Red Defending team start outside of the box and aim to regain possession of the ball and score in the big goal

Coaching Points

-Deny penetrating passes that break defensive lines or into the target area

-Players need to re-apply pressure the player on the ball quickly before they can pick their head up and play forward

Player Actions

- Travel as the ball travels, so they arrive as the ball arrives

- Close the ball quickly to deny passing lanes

- Deny forward passing lanes by checking their shoulder to see the runs of the opponent behind them

- Recover quickly to get back into defensive shape

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Game

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Game (10 mins)

10 mins

Finish with game

7v6 (6v5)

Intervals : 2 x 5 mins

Rules

Normal game

Blue Team score in mini goals

Red Team score in Big Goal

Swap Teams around after each interval

Coaching Points

-Deny penetrating passes that break defensive lines or into the target area

-Players need to re-apply pressure the player on the ball quickly before they can pick their head up and play forward

Player Actions

- Travel as the ball travels, so they arrive as the ball arrives

- Close the ball quickly to deny passing lanes

- Deny forward passing lanes by checking their shoulder to see the runs of the opponent behind them

- Recover quickly to get back into defensive shape

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