Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Out of possession - Defending the overload - Specific Practice in SSG

Specific Practice (20 mins)

Topic: Defending the Overload – Out Possession -Understand when and how to deal with numerical advantages which the opposition have.

Protect the middle - Stay compact and Narrow - force and keep wide

- Blocking central passes

- Protecting the space between the lines

- Control the space behind

- Stop the switch

- Show away from goal.

Sub principles

Defend the final third

- Stop crosses

- Protect the middle 

- Minimise box entries.

Attacking Transition 

- Anticipate transition 

- Play forwards early

- Support quickly

Organisation

Specific Practice 8 Red (4-2-1) v7 Blue (3- 3-1 +1 passive player - GK)

Coaching the Red Team - Score by receiving the ball in end zone (Green). Extra Points scored for meeting session conditions 

Managing the Blue Team - Score Vs GK. Extra Points scored for meeting session conditions. 

20min Session - 3 x 5min Blocks with 90sec break

Tapered Red area for realism.

3 Zone Sections using poles for awareness. 

Challenge, conditions and targets: Force opposition into blue areas where we can create a numerical advantage defensively. Can we keep a clean sheet. Prevent crosses from Red zone. To support attacking transition only pass forwards, 10 seconds to score in end zone. Counter attack by breaking lines. Can we make sure we have two of the three zones covered defensively when the ball is played wide. Out of possession team score extra points if they score whilst squeezing play inline with the poles. 

Block 1 - Control the space behind to manage opposition overload

Manage opposition - In possession try occupy the three zones, full backs support only (no over/underlaps), have to switch play to create an overload before you can score.

Red team (coached team) - Back four protect the middle at all times (Narrow and compact), when ball goes wide occupy 2 zones, leaving the furthest men/space. 

Control space behind - Managing opposition 

- Red full backs - Delay - when to press / stand off - Where to cover on opposite side.

- Red CBs - Where to cover / what to communicate. (control space behind)

Block 2 - Control the space behind to manage opposition overload- Over / underlaps 

Manage opposition - * Full backs can now attempt exploit space in behind through over laps and underlaps to get cross in the box.

Red team - Coaching the decision making and ability to work as a unit to control space in behind and protect the middle.

Covering CB - goes with over / underlapping full back to stop the cross 

CDM - replaces CB in the defensive line to ensure overload in the box is in favour of the defenders - controlling the space behind and protecting the middle.

Block 3 - How to manage opposition numerical advantages take 

Manage opposition - Full backs can now support or overlap but must maintain pitch geography. No. 9/10 can you receive the ball between the defensive lines? Extra point. 

Red team - Coaching the midfield screens plus No.10 to block central passes, protect the space between the lines and show away from goal.

6/8 Screens block passing lanes into opposition 9 and 10 - Scanning

6/8 Closest to ball supports press, other covers centrally leaving furthest space/players  keeping the ball away from central area, support defensive numerical advantage around the ball. 

No.10 - Blocking passing lanes, forcing ball wide, stop the switch be close enough to the ball to anticipate transition and interceptions.  

Interventions

Concurrent, Terminal, Walk through.