Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): SSG 6 Defensive principles

Screen 1 (20 mins)

Organisation

• Area used is the centre circle with a 4m x 4m square in the middle (coned off using flat markers).
• Goals around the outside as targets for defensive players when they win the ball.
• extra balls are with the coach for quick play or to keep up the tempo
• 4 defensive players inside the circle and 6 attacking players (4 around the outside and 2 inside).
• The aim is for the attacking players to play the ball around to move the defenders and create a gap to pass the ball into a teammate in the central square.
• The defenders are not allowed inside the centre square. The attackers can only be in the central square for 3 seconds before having to exit again.

Coaching Points

• Defend the box with energy and desire.
• Pressure whenever the ball goes into an attacker inside the circle.
  
• Remaining compact to stop split passes into the square
• Protect the middle, force the play wide - back outside the circle.

• Attackers aim is to get the ball into a teammate standing in the central box.
• Defenders target is to stop any passes into the central box and score in the goals outside the circle.

• Attackers inside must play 1 touch (Regression).
• Outside players must remain outside the centre circle but can move anywhere outside (inside players can switch out for outside players at any time - progression).
• 1 external player can join the centre (progression)

• If defenders can win the ball, they can score in the mini goals. 
• Can defenders not only intercept passes into the central area, but also put themselves in positions to intercept passes from outside players to other outside players (passess that go through the circle).
• Attackers - move the ball quickly, play through, around and even over.

• Attackers inside the circle go to only allowed 1 or 2 touch.
• Effect the size of the area - central square larger (Progression) or smaller (regression).