Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): UEFA B Session 2 Defending the Final Third

Specific Practise - Defending the final third

Specific Practice

Welsh way principle - Defend the lines 

Tactical Periodization - MD-2

Target RPE - 6-8

Intensive Practice 

Blocks - x2 4 min Blocks 

rest - 1 min 

session Layout:

x13 Players 

pitch size - 50x60m

x3 mini goals

x1 big goal

x6 Blue Bibs (opposition)

x6 Red Bibs (Coached team)

- Play will start from the oppositions deep lying midfield player having possession and attempting to play into one of the more advanced midfielders to try and create Oppurtunites in the final third to score, if coached teams manage to gain possession, they must play forward into one of the 3 mini goals which represent the two wide players and the CF.

Coached team formation: 4231 with the 3 advanced midfield players and the CF removed and replaced with mini goals (play starts from opposition having possession on the halfway line and focus of session is defending the final third so forward players for coached team not required. 

opposition team formation: 433 with defenders removed as play starts with deep lying midfield player having possession on the halfway line. 

opposition instructions:

-  be unpredictable 

- try to drag defenders into wide positions 

- ball speed 

reference points - starting positions  

LB - starting position shouod be corner of 18 yard box 

CB's - In line with either post

RB - corner of 18 yard box 

CDM - half way between own teams defense and opposition closest player 

coaching points for Coached team:

- Leave furthest player

- Protect the middle third 

- track runners 

problem:

opposition are turning and playing into wide areas and getting crosses into the box

Solution: 

- can we press high and  aggressively to try and stop the pass into the wide players