Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): GK, defending the final 3rd

FAW Coach Ed

Barry Flintoff

Profile Summary

Name:	Barry Flintoff
City:	Wakefield
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Situation

focus of the session is out of possession defending the final 3rd, GK

Purpose to improve the Welsh Way principles of play

- understand when and how to minimise space

- deal with cross and balls into the box

- protect space centrally

Organisation (Practice Layout & Transition)

14 players (including 2 x GK), bibs, cones, flats, 2 x full size goals and 1 x mini goal & Balls

for both sessions players will be split into team of 6 + GK

General Practice - area 44 by 36 yds

SSG - 50 by 60 yds

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

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Learning Objectives

	Technical pressing - fast and aggressive, close down, slow down and low down. Body and press shape- angled to show away from centre and danger area. interceptions and tackling. RXing and Passing detail. GK decision making and types of save
	Tactical remain balanced, work as a unit, slide and remain compact - maintain patience. GK to consider area awareness and positioning dependent on ball position and situation. force play wide and keep there / minmise space / defend the central area
	Physical high tempo / aggressive press / body on the line / explosive speed to close down or maintain controlled pace to low block / GK dominate his area and strength to win the ball
	Psychological prevent the cross - no score mentality and to win ball back as soon as possible - resilience to go again and learn from mistakes
	Social good communication, work as a team and support each other - GK direct movement and give supporting details

Animation 1 (15 mins)

General Practice - defending principles

the practice is a wave game with reds defending the main goal and the blue team attacking

the GKs will both support the defending team and alternate per wave/cycle

Method

the players will set up as per the diagram 3v3 plus GK

defending team start position is on the 18yard line, biased (alternating per wave) on the left or right

attacking team will press the central defender with 2 attackers taking up positon in the wide area of their defensive zone

the GK plays a bounce pass with his central defender and then plays a long pass to the wide free attacker.

On receipt of the ball the wave become live - with the blues attacking the goal and reds looking to defend the ball and win back to transition as soon as possible.

Can the reds force play wide, where they can win the ball - whilst remaining compact to prevent the ball playing played through the centre of the pitch.

focus on when and how to press - triggers

remain balanced and patient

GK to direct and support , whist defending the space for any through ball or the area for cross's

if reds win the ball they are to transition and score on the blues mini goal - they have 10 seconds

each cycle lasts 90 seconds or until a goal, upon which the team swap. after 6 mins reds and blues swap roles. 1 min rest on swap over

coaching style

Demo/walkthrough to set scene

in play and terminal at rotation with Q&A

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

regression - defending team upon transition can score a point by running the ball into the scoring zone

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Blues score - 1 point

red score - 1 point

GK scores - 2 points

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

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

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Learning Objectives

	Technical scanning, pressing - fast and aggressive, close down, slow down and low down. Body and press shape- angled to show away from centre and danger area. interceptions and tackling. RXing and Passing detail. GK decision making and types of save
	Tactical protect the central areas - force wide - prevent the switch, split the pitch, be patient and make play predictabel
	Physical high tempo / aggressive press / body on the line / explosive speed to close down or maintain controlled pace to low block / GK dominate his area and strength to win the ball - explosive on transition
	Psychological prevent the cross - no score mentality and to win ball back as soon as possible - resilience to go again and learn from mistakes - team ethos working as unit
	Social team communication on play - supportive - GK to direct with timely accurate info

Animation 2 (15 mins)

SSG - defending in the final 3rd (shaded area)

Purpose - defend the final 3rd the Welsh Way

to improve defensive capabilities and responsibilities in the final 3rd

to improve decision making

to improve individual and unit plays

Set up

red team coached set up in 442 (less 11, 7, 10 & 9)

Primary player GK - Primary unit back 4 - secondary unit midfield

- work as a compact unit - dominate cental area and prevent passes through the centre

- force wide - win ball

- force wide - prevent crosses and balls into box

- ignore the far man (least dangerous)

- win the ball and quick transition into attack

GK to direct and defend the area, DTG when needed - also initiating attack when in receipt of the ball - quick transition when possible

blue team managed set up in 442 (less 2, 3, 4 & 5)

- can they play forward and break lines

- use various passes - into onto, around and over

- move the ball quick

Challenges

can blue 7 & 11 invert to make space on the wing to attack

can blue 6 and 8 look to press high and break lines to play direct through the middle

this is an end to end game - ball starts with Red keeper, who distributes to blue keeper to start the attack

throw ins in play, ball restarts with red on a goal.

if reds win the ball they can attack to score - no time limit (coaches discretion to reset)

Coaching Styles - in play and terminal when needed (if same error noted more than 3 times) also support the good!

Coaching points

Two red CMs - protect the defensive (screen), 1st press on blue rx'er when ball goes live, direct play, force one way together - prevent the switch
If the ball goes wide - full backs are to engage - stop the cross
Rest of the defense shift across leave furthest player - work as a unit - split pitch and box off
Encourage defensive communication - all players + GK
Block shots/prevent crosses
GK to direct and support as spare man