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

General (30 mins)

15 Minutes

Welsh Way Principles:

Understand how to effectively defend the final third

Organisation / Area Size:

40x40 yards split into 2 equal boxes of 20x20

5 yard endzones and a goal at the bottom of each box

Practice is 6v6

How:

Working with the Reds, they will be coached on how to effectively defend their goal when the opposition are in their final third.

Play in 4x 3 minute blocks with a rest and terminal intervention after each block.

1 minute each for intro, handover and debrief

Instructions:

Play starts & restarts with the deepest of the Blue players. The Blues are to be managed to make the pitch big (front 3 provide width and depth) and to utilise their midfield overload to quickly combine and build attacks.

Practice split into 4 blocks of 3 minutes with the Reds coached as follows:

1st Block: Protect the Middle - Central midfielders stay compact in the middle and not allow split passes between them (Do this by have the 2 deep blue players spread out playing into central areas with red team looking to press 

2nd Block: Force Wide - While staying compact, the central midfielders are to be coached on shifting side to side to show the ball carrier into wide areas. If the ball goes into a Blue wide player, the Red fullbacks are to be coached to show the player outside and not allow a pass inside

3rd Block: Stop/Defend the Cross: When the Blues have it in wide areas, the Red fullback is to be coached to stop the cross. Where possible, the fullback should be coached to block cutbacks and crosses across the goal face. Red central defenders and opposite fullback should be ready to defend any crosses with the opposite fullback tucking in to defend the far post

4th Block: Body on the Line: Reds are to be coached to be prepared to make last ditch tackles to stop crosses and be brave when defending crosses 

To score, both teams must score with a first time finish when inside their respective endzone.

For the Reds, if they win possession they must complete their finish within 10 seconds on the counter attack

Challenges, Conditions & Targets:

The practice is conditioned with the endzones in each box with goals as the targets. Both teams are challenged to score with a first time finish with the Reds having the additional challenge to score on the counter within 10 seconds.

Key Points:

Stay Compact 

Force Wide

Protect the Middle

Defend the Cross

Interventions:

Terminal (during rest breaks)

Concurrent