Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): UEFA B - Defending Lines

Small Sided Game (15 mins)

Challenges

Can blue win the ball back centrally and play their first pass foward.

Conditions

Red must finish first time into the small goals and one of the red 8 6 or 10 must touch the ball before full backs can go over the half way line.

Blue must score within 5 passes of winning the ball back.

Targets

If Red 6/8 or 10 score goal is worth 2.

Position Specific Coaching Points   (Blue Players)

#9 - 3 passes between Blue 4 and 5 is a trigger to drop into shape and screen the Red 6.

   Triggers to press hard - Loose touches or under hit passes.

#11/7 - When the ball is with the CB on your side of the pitch cut the line between the CB and     FB - In between the 6 and 18 just beyond the centre circle, body shaped open to see     both ball and player. When the ball is on the other side get in line with the 6 yard line    deeper than the ball body shape open to see all players of the back line. (UEFA, 2024.    p.23)

#8/10 - When the ball is with the CB on your side mark the outside shoulder of the opposition     player touch tight no more than 1 arm distance away on the front foot ready to step     infront and win the ball. When the ball is on the other side CB mark the inside shoulder    of your direct opponent. If striker presses the CB on your side you step onto the number    6 to release the striker. (Bates, 2020)

#6 - Be on the inside shoulder of the 8/10 depending on ball side no more than 3 arm lengths   away. You control the press as you need to jump onto the 8/10 depending on the ball side   to release the Blue 8/10 to then step up and release the Blue 9 to press.

#4/5 - Startng Position - In line with the posts - as the ball travels to the CB on your side move    to between the 6 and 18. when ball is with the CBs push the line up to between the 18    and the centre circle. Be on the outside shoulder of the striker on the ball side. Hand on    the shoulder body shape side on. As the CB looks down at the ball and backswings    contact on the ball side shoulder of the ST to stop turn and give an advantage to get to    the over ball. (UEFA, 2024. p.9)

GK - Be outside of the box in line the six yard line when the ball is with the CBs and move back   as the ball moves up the pitch.

What IFs

• If the ball goes wide to the full back - 7 or 11 press hard and force the ball back.
• If the ball gets into the 8/10 - 7 or 11 cut the ball out back out wide.
• If the line is broke out to the full back and beyond the winger - 8/10 can engage and 7/11 tuck in to take the CM
• If the ball goes over into the space behind winger - 8/10 can engage and 7/11 tuck in to take the CM

References Used

Bates, R. The Dick Bate Football Anthology. (2020). The Giles' Trust. https://gilestrust.org/blogs/the-dick-bate-football-anthology

UEFA, 2024, 2024 UEFA EUROTechnical Report, Available at https://uefatechnicalreports.com/pdf-euro-2024-technical-report (Accesssed 6/11/2024) p.29

UEFA, 2024, 2024 UEFA  Champions LeagueTechnical Report, Available at https://uefatechnicalreports.com/pdf-euro-2024-technical-report (Accesssed 6/11/2024) p.23