Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Full-backs defending in wide areas
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Tony Hodson
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See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
15 mins
Topic
- Defending in wide areas
Principle
- Full-backs defending wide
Time
- 4 x 4-minute blocks
Players
- 12, including 1 goalkeeper
Space/equipment
- Half-pitch/Balls, bibs, flat markers and 1 goals
Description
- In this game, played on half of a full-sized pitch, the focus is on full-backs defending in wide areas.
- The defending team has a goalkeeper, a back four and one defensive midfielder. The attacking team has two wingers, a forward and an attacking midfielder. There are also two neutral players, who act as centre-backs for the attacking team and forwards for the defending team.
- The final third is split into three zones: Zones A and C are wide, and Zone B is central.
- Play starts with the neutral players at the foot of the playing area. They feed the ball into the attacking team, who aim to circulate the ball and create chances to score.
- Once in the final third, the attacking team has six seconds to score, and their players are limited to three touches.
- The attacking team score 1 point for any goal scored from regular play. They score 3 points for any goal scored from a cross played from either of the wide zones. They also score 3 points if they receive a ball in behind in Zone B and score within two touches.
- The defending team's objective is to defend, win the ball and counter-attack with the ball into the opposite end zone. They earn 1 point for every interception or blocked cross that doesn't end in a successful counter-attack, and 3 points if they recover the ball and progress into the opposite end zone.
Coaching points
- Positioning: The defending team should defend in a 1-4-1 structure, moving together as the ball moves to limit space between players.
- Pressing in the central lane: When the ball is in the central lane, the defenders must co-ordinate both pressure and cover. The defensive midfielder should aim to force play to one side, while one of the centre-backs can step out to apply pressure when the ball is played between the lines. When the centre-back steps out, the full-backs and other centre-back should drop to provide cover.
- Forcing play wide: The defending team should look to force play wide, preventing the opposition from playing through the middle. Once the ball goes wide, the full-backs must be aggressive in their 1v1 defending, in order to stop the winger progressing. When one full-back is defending 1v1, the full-back on the opposite side must shift with the team, ready to help defend the space in behind the defensive line or drop into the box to defend.
- Defending the run in behind: As the ball progresses towards one side of the pitch, the full-back must not get too tight to the winger, as that will give the winger an opportunity to use an opposite movement to receive in behind the defensive line.
- Defending the switch in play: When the ball is on the opposite side of the pitch, the opposite full-back should shift with the team to help defend the space behind the second centre-back. The full-back must also check their shoulder constantly to keep an eye on where their winger is. When a switch of play is made, the full-back should quickly speed up, either intervening directly or allowing the opponent to control the ball and then applying pressure on the ball.
1v1 defending: When defending 1v1, the full-back should lower their centre of gravity, moving backwards while side-on to the opponent, forcing them towards the touchline. If the winger takes a bad touch, the full-back should close the space and make an attempt to win possession. They should not dive in feet first, instead making contact with the winger with their arms first before trying to win the ball.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
20 mins
Topic
- Defending in wide areas
Principle
- Full-backs defending wide
Time
- 4 x 5-minute blocks
Players
- 21, including 2 goalkeepers
Space/equipment
- 70m x 50m/Balls, bibs, flat markers and 2 goals
Description
- In this 10v10 +1 conditioned game, teams are rewarded for scoring goals following wide play that will test the opposition’s full-back.
- Teams are set up in a 1-4-4-1 shape when defending, and a 1-4-3-3 when attacking. One neutral player plays as a central midfielder for whichever team is in possession.
- The game should have a natural flow to it, with certain conditions used to challenge the full-backs.
- The pitch has zones in each of the four corners, as shown, and is also split in half. The normal offside rule is in effect.
- If the ball goes out of bounds, the practice restarts with the goalkeeper of the team that was previously defending.
- If a goal is scored, the goalkeeper of the team that scored restarts the practice with a new ball.
- Teams earn 1 point for a goal scored from regular play. They earn 2 points for a goal scored from a cross from one of the corner zones and finished within two touches.
- They earn 3 points for a goal scored following a switch of play from one wide area to the other, followed by a cross from a corner zone and a finish within two touches.
Coaching points
- Positioning: The defending team should defend in a 1-4-4-1 structure, moving together with the ball to leave limited space between players.
- Pressing in the central lane: When the ball is in the central lane, the defenders must co-ordinate pressure and cover. Ideally, the number nine will help to guide the opposition’s play to one side of the pitch. The midfielders can then focus on preventing play into the neutral player and the opposition number 10. When a centre-back steps out to press a free player, the full-backs and other centre-back should drop to provide cover behind them.
- Forcing play wide: Players should aim to force play wide, and not allow the opponent to penetrate through the central lane. Once the ball goes wide, the team should shift together; the full-backs should be aggressive in their 1v1 defending to try and prevent the winger from progressing with the ball. The winger on that side should drop, while the far-side winger and full-back shift with the rest of the team to become compact.
- Defending the run in behind: As the ball progresses towards one side, the full-back must not get too tight to the winger. That will give them an opportunity to use an opposite movement to receive in behind the defensive line. The centre-back on the ball side should provide cover in depth, should the winger receive in behind.
- Defending the switch in play: When the ball is on the opposite side of the pitch, the opposite full-back and winger should shift with the team to help defend the space behind the second centre-back and in front of the defence. Players must constantly check their shoulders to stay aware of where the opposite winger is positioned. When the opposition switches play, the full-back must quickly speed up to defend the play - either intervening directly or allowing the opponent to control the ball and then quickly applying pressure.
1v1 defending: When defending 1v1, the full-back should lower their centre of gravity, moving backwards while side-on to the play to force the opponent towards the sideline. If the winger takes a bad touch, that is the trigger to close them down and make an attempt to win the ball.
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15 mins
Topic
Principle
Time
Players
Space/equipment
Description
Coaching points