Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 11 v 11 Defending zone 14

Roles and responsibilities of every player. (15 mins)

Organisation

Building blocks to help every player understand thier roles and responsibilities within the team

1. Striker. Will be the trigger to when other players in the team engage. His role is to get close to apply pressure on the ball and to show the centre back one way. This will help rest of team mates as to they will have more of an understanding as to where the next pass will go.

2. Wide left player needs to be in a position where he can affect the pass into blue right midfield player, but also able to get to the full back as the ball arrives. Once the ball is at Blue full backs feet he will show inside as we have an overload in the middle of the pitch.

3. Number 10. will step across and become a screen not to allow the ball to be played into Blue midfielder. He will also have to step out and engage if centre back goes past striker. His main role is to drop onto the deepest midfielder.

4. Opposite wide player comes in field and affects Blue furthest central midfielder. In a position where he can get close as ball arrives, but also able to get to Blue left back if the ball is switched quickly.

5. Central midfielder on side of the ball. Similar to Number 10 he will screen any pass into Blue striker. In a position where he can close down his midfield opponent if ball is played into him.

6, Furthest central midfileder. Will drop slightly deeper than other central midfielder. He will provide a screen to prevent pass into second striker, also being slightly deeper will allow him to cover team mate should he get beat. He will be in a position to get close tom his opponent if the ball is played into Blue furthest central midfielder.

7. Left full back. If the ball is with left sided centre back, he will be in a position get close to Blue wide midfielder if ball is played into him. If wide player has ball at feet he will show the player away from goal and wide.(if allowed to come inside he would enter zone 14).

8. Left centre back. Will be on the side of the ball marking the first striker. Looking to win ball if played into strikers feet. Being ball side will help prevent striker from running into channel as defender will be ahead of him.

9 Right centre back will cover team mate dropping slightly deeper and coming infield to keep the distances between centre backs the same. He will be the deepest defender and can decide whether to track runs or let attackers run offside.

10. Opposite Full Back Will come in field looking to cover furthest centre back. (But being in line or slighlty ahead of him). He will be in a position to deal with second striker. Leaving his wide player as he is the least danger, He will be in a position to get across and deal with wide player as the ball travels a long distance. He will have an open body position being able to see bothe Blue striker and Blue wide player.

11 Goalkeeper. Starting positions will be slightly deeper in the half pitch practice compared to the 11v11 game. He will be on the side of the ball and looking to deal with any over hit passes. His communication will be very important as he is the only player who can see the whole pitch.

If ball is on opposite side of the pitch then players roles are reversed.