Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending in a low block 1

Possession practice10 mins

Topic 

• Defending in a low block

Principle 

• Stay compact as a back four

Time 

• 4 x 2-minute blocks with a minute’s rest between

Players

• 14 

Space/equipment  

• 40m x 45m/Balls, bibs, flat markers, 2 mini-goals

Description

• The playing area is split into thirds, with four defenders (white in the animation) in the middle third and three attackers (orange) in each of the end thirds. Four players (green) are stationed on the outside of the playing area, as shown in the animation.
• One of the green players at the end of the playing area will start with the ball and pass to the orange players in their end zone. The orange players’ aim is to work an opportunity to pass through the middle third to the opposite end zone and transfer the ball to the green at the other end.
• All players are locked in their zone.
• Green players are limited to two touches.
• Sideline players (green) can be used for a bounce pass, but they must return the ball to the zone from which they have received the ball. These side players are limited to one touch.
• If defenders win the ball, they attempt to score in one of the two mini-goals positioned outside the playing area.

Progression 

• Have one green player join the defending team. They can intercept passes that enter their zone from the opposite end zone and, if they win the ball, attempt to score in either of the mini-goals.
• Progress again by allowing the attackers to enter the middle third to find a pass to the opposite end zone, and by allowing defenders to move out of the middle third to press the ball.

Coaching points

• Staying compact: The four defenders should remain compact throughout. If one moves out to press the ball, the other three should become more compact to reduce the chances of being split by a pass.
• Engaging: The widest defenders (the full-backs) should be encouraged to engage the bounce players on the outside of the playing area. The coach can use terminology such as ‘bite’, encouraging aggressive contact on the opponent’s first touch, with body shape that forces them to play outside or backwards.
• Body shape: When the ball is out wide, defenders should have the same side-on body shape as one another so that they can step up, or back up a teammate, quickly.
• Shifting: Defenders should move side-to-side like a pendulum as the ball moves between attackers, keeping the spaces in between players to a minimum.
• Anticipation: Defenders should anticipate opposing attackers’ intentions by their body shape. If an attacker is facing forward when they receive a pass and quickly get control of the ball, the defenders should not step up too quickly. Instead, they should step up only if the ball is not under control, as this will help avoid line-breaking passes being made.
• Triggers to press: Slow or sideways passes are a good opportunity for one defender to step up and put pressure on the attacker. The other three defenders should move into a narrower shape.
• Dropping: Defenders should drop to defend a clipped ball over if the ball-carrier has time and space, or if the ball is moving sideways or backwards in preparation for a first-time pass in behind.

• Full-back awareness: When the ball is wide, the far-side full-back must be aware of the gap to their nearest centre-back but also be ready to push out to the nearest attacker if they receive a pass. However, they should not move out too early, as this will leave a gap for the attacking team to pass through.

8v6 game-related practice15 mins

Topic

• Defending in a low block

Principle

• Stay compact when defending

Time

• 4 x 3-minute blocks with 60-90 seconds’ rest between

Players

• 14 plus 2 goalkeepers

Space/equipment

• Full-sized pitch/four mannequins, two goals

Description

• Team A sets up to defend with a back four, and two strikers at the other end to counter-attack.

• Team B sets up with a midfield five set up as a low-block midfield would, and a front three. This means they have two pairs of wide players: one closer to goal to attack as part of the front three, and one sitting deeper and ready to defend.

• Initially, players must not leave the half of the pitch in which they start.

• The ball starts with the Team B midfield, which plays in to the front three to try and score a goal.

• If a goal is scored, a new ball is played to the midfield and the practice restarts.

• If Team A wins possession, they must move out with the ball and attempt to play their two forwards in on goal beyond the mannequins.

• Team B’s midfield attempts to intercept, but they cannot recover beyond the mannequins. The line of mannequins acts as an offside line.

• If Team B’s midfield intercepts the ball, they then attempt to play an attacker in to score.

• Normal rules otherwise apply. If the ball leaves the playing area, the coach feeds a new ball in to the deepest Team B midfielder.

Progression

• Allow one Team B midfielder to join the attack, and one of the Team A attackers to recover into their own half.

• Progress again by allowing a Team B midfielder to recover beyond the mannequins to stop the attackers.

Coaching points

• Staying compact: The four defenders should remain compact throughout. If one moves out to press the ball, the other three should become more compact to reduce the chances of being split by a through ball.

• Positioning: If a striker starts to drop to receive a pass to feet, the nearest defender should shift their weight on to their front foot to follow them and engage. If the ball is wide and it isn’t clear who is responsible for the striker, the centre-back who can see both the striker and the ball should follow the striker out. If the ball is on the left and the striker is between the right centre-back and right-back, that centre-back should step up as they can see the striker and the right-back can’t.

• Body shape: Defenders should adopt a body shape that aims to force the opposition to play outside.