Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Session Plan 14 & Reflections: Defend Breaking Lines FinalThird (Out of possession Specific to SSG )

SSG

SSG:

Blue team: 1-4-2-1 (8 players) Working from the back 11V11 1-4-4-2 I have removed two midfielders and a striker.  

Red team: 1-2-3-2 (8 players) Working from the back 11V11 1-4-4-2 I have removed two defenders and one midfielder.

Total number of players: 16 players

Pitch size: Half pitch.

Duration of the session: 15 minutes small sided game.

Conditions, Challenges & Targets: Blues defenders will be now challenged to play inside the D area zone marked in grey to keep the focus specified to the final third defending of the breaking of lines. The target for both teams will be to score on goal. Conditions will be removed for realism in this SSG. But blues will have 10 seconds to score as a challenge because they will need to recycle back to shape to defend the breaking of lines in their defensive third which is the principle of play in focus in this practice.

Problem 1: Breaking lines centrally.

Solution: Protect the middle with more numbers and apply fast pressure on the ball and force them wide and stay narrow.

Problem 2: Breaking lines after switch play to sides.

Solution: Stop split passes and protect the space by applying quick pressure on the ball before the receiver gets total control of the ball like triggering the press as the pass is made so the receiver gets unsettled with quick trigger of pressing and fast closing down and defending the box quickly.

Reflections:

The narrow defensive unit by the blues was a key highlight of this session. I believe the practice layout and walk through at the start had a good impact in this great understanding of the defenders. The quick press and minimizing the gaps or spaces behind for any through pass was well managed. I believe the session went so well for the defenders due to their ability to hold on to the principles of being narrow and tight, the quick press on the ball, blocking split passes and protecting the space behind while protecting the middle and forcing the opponent wide to minimize the box entries or crosses through, around or over in order to defend the box successfully. But I should have diagnosed this good in the session early and added an extra player for the reds to bring more realism and life to session to make it harder for the blues. I think I was too into the success of the blues and coached too closely with the action leaving the focus on the opponent less. In my reflection this should be revised and improved for better results. My action plan would be to overload the reds in attacking the final third with breaking lines so the blues will get a tougher test of resilience in defending the breaking of lines in the final third. Also my coaching position will be more zonal than a closer view so that I can see the whole frame in one go. I would also create more problems and solutions the next time to coach the defenders the importance of deciding who does what, when and how while defending against the breaking of lines to press quick while keeping narrow and cancel out the spaces and protect the middle and target stopping the split passes and any through, around or over breaking of lines in our defensive third which is their attacking third where they will take risks as well in finishing.