Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Zones 1-2: Defensive Organization - Deny/Protect

Screen 2 (10 mins)

SET UP:

Team being coached in Black

Black: 1-3-2-2 vs. Red: 1-2-1-3-1

ACTIVITY:

Attacking team (red) players take the ball in their hands and pass the ball from player to player in a fashion to rehearse the positional movements that they will perform on the field positionally.

Defending players (black) makes the movements to the ball in the defending team and player shape on the field as if they were on the full field as a rehearsal.

Coach is demonstrating to players what they should be looking for in their movements looking to defend on topic.

KEYS:

Approach to the ball

Addressing communication

Addressing player movement: pressure-cover-support

Addressing what to do when the ball is recovered from the attacking team

Coaching over the top, of the play, in natural stoppages and when the play is needed to be stopped in a correction or reenactment for a teachable moment.

Screen 4 (15 mins)

SET UP: 

20 X 10 area (l x w)

Balls at one end

WHAT TO DO:

Player with the ball (red) plays ball to player without the ball on the other side of the grid and closes down the receiver

Receiver takes the ball and runs at server trying to get to the opposite end line for a point

Server closes using proper angled approach with a good speed and pace to delay the defender or win the ball

If the defender wins the ball, then they go to the end line for a point

Play switches once the players reset to original positions

COACHING POINTS:

Angle of approach

Speed and pace of approach

Positioning of the defender relative to the ball and the player (if I am quicker I can have a smaller distance, if I am slower i have to have a greater cushion)

Body position on the ball

When do I try and recover if the attacker passes me

PROGRESSION TO 2 V 2:

Ball is played on the diagonal to the opposite grid and the defender in that grid closes the ball

Secondary attacker looks to get into space staying onside to receive the ball

Server is now the secondary defender providing cover for the primary defender and pushing the player with the ball to one side or the other while cutting off the pass to the secondary attacker

Again trying to get to the end line

COACHING POINTS:

Angle of approach

Speed and pace of approach

Positioning of the defender relative to the ball with the player (if I am quicker I can have a smaller distance, if I am slower i have to have a greater cushion)

Positioning of the defender whom is the cover supporting the defender on the ball and the other attacking player

Body position on the ball, body position of the player "off the ball"

When do I try and recover if the attacker passes me, when does my defending partner step up to defend, how do the approach, what is the communication between the defending players

PROGRESSION TO 3 V 3:

Ball is played on the diagonal or straight ahead to the opposite grid and the defender in that grid closes the ball

Other attackers look to get into space staying onside to receive the ball

Server is now the secondary defender providing cover for the primary defender and the third defender furthest from the ball is the supporting defender pushing the player with the ball to one side or the other while cutting off the pass to the secondary or third attacker

Again trying to get to the end line

COACHING POINTS:

Angle of approach

Speed and pace of approach

Positioning of the defender relative to the ball with the player (if I am quicker I can have a smaller distance, if I am slower i have to have a greater cushion)

Positioning of the defender whom is the cover supporting the defender on the ball and the other attacking player

Body position on the ball, body position of the player "off the ball"

When do I try and recover if the attacker passes me, when does my defending partner step up to defend, how do the approach, what is the communication between the defending players

PROGRESSION TO 4 V 4:

Ball is played on the diagonal or straight ahead to the opposite grid and the defender in that grid closes the ball

Other attackers look to get into space staying onside to receive the ball

Server is now the secondary defender providing cover for the primary defender and the third defender furthest from the ball is the supporting defender pushing the player with the ball to one side or the other while cutting off the pass to the secondary or third attacker

Screen 6 (20 mins)

Set Up:

Playing area: Half a field

Balls at the sides of the net with the GK's

Place balls around the field for easier restarts

8 v 8 game

Red Team: 1-4-3

Blue Team: 3-3-1

Activity:

Game 8 v 8 Coaching the red team to defend and counter attack

When defending 1-4-3

When in attack: 1-2-4-1

Coaching Points:

Not allowing space in between the defenders to be exploited and break lines with passes

Quick movement to the ball to isolate the player with the ball and limit their angles to pass out of pressure, or attack the goal

Using compactness to shift the attack to the width of the field and closing up spaces in the defensive block to win the ball and advance the ball to the opposition's goal

Having a plan once the ball is received and what to do next 

Creating angles in support of the player defending the ball and close down others trying to create an angle of support to attack 

Limiting separation from the defense by physically checking with the attacker

Maintaining proper spacing and distance between the player with the ball and the other attacker that they are marking