Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): General Session - Defending the Lines

4v4+4 Possession

Principle of play: Defending the lines - Understand when and how to stop the opposition playing through, around or over

Organization:

Space: 25m x 20m

Time: 4 x 4 min sets with 1 min rest in between

Explanation:

4v4+4 possession game. The teams in possession take the positions on the 2 edges of the space while the defending team is in the middle. If defenders win the ball from the reds they pass to blue and then switch with reds who become defenders. 

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Target: Each set the team that has their line broken the list amounts wins.

Conditions: Teams in possession cannot make more than 4 sideways passes sideways to force attacking teams to look for the forward pass.

Challenges: After the first two sets coach challenges the defensive unit by managing the teams in possession to play quicker by giving them a 2 touch limit.

Key Points:

Out of Possession (focus team blue):

Compact defensive unit

Aggressive pressure player closest to the ball to close angle of the pass

Angle and timing of the press

Coverage of rest of unit to create compactness

Force sideways passes

Weight and accuracy of the pass

Play through, around or over the opposition

Limited touches to move the ball quickly

Look for opportunities to break the line forward quickly