Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending the final 3rd - Final Assessment

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Laurence Woodroffe

Profile Summary

Laurence Woodroffe
Name: Laurence Woodroffe
City: Coventry
Country: United Kingdom
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Description

Organisation (Practice Layout & Transition)

Area = Final third of the pitch with constants

11 a side - Reds = 4/3/3 (One screening midfielder) + Yellows = 4/3/3 

In specific Reds have GK /back 4 / 1 screening midfielder & Yellows have 3 midfielders and 3 attackers(2 units)

Use 2 full size goals and 2 mini goals

I will be coaching the Red and managing the Yellows

Block 1 & 2 will up to 5 minutes long each.

SSG would be 6 minutes also 3 minutes left I would set a challenge that the reds are 1 goal ahead in a cup final and the yellows have to go and score.

Block 1 - I want the Red's to maintain a high line (To counter attack as quick as possible) 

Problem - I will looks for the Yellow's to force the defensive unit to go deeper (Back to their 18 yard line) and look to overload the center. I will ask the 2 Yellow midfielders to make forward runs to overload the center backs.

Solution - the defensive unit then start man marking - full backs mark wingers / centre back mark the Yellow 9 and 10 with Red 6 mark the overload midfield running forward. 

If the Red's win back possession or force the ball to go backwards i want the 2 centre backs and the screening midfielder to become a triangle again and push up the pitch.

Block 2 - Defensive unit to start deeper (Inside 18 yard box) Game scenario - protecting a lead

Problem - I will tell the Yellows to try and play wide directly and ask their yellow midfielders to under lap. Wingers have more space now to drive at full backs or deliver (different types of crosses)

Solution - Ask the full backs to press the wingers then the defensive unit (Back 4) to man mark the attacking unit with the screening midfielder to mark the overloading midfielder.

When the Reds have won the ball or possession for the yellows go back to the middle 3rd, I would coach the Reds to close in and become a tight unit on the 18 yard line.

Yellow 6 / 8 always start the practice. 

Back to front instructions:

6 Red (Screening Mid) protect the center of the pitch and rotate a triangle with the Red 4/5

Reds 3/2 will be asked to go and press on the first touch (Use 1-1 defending techniques to judge distances and how aggressive) Always protecting the middle (Stopping the cross or a easy switch of play)

Red 4/5 work together to mark the number 9 and covering each of their LB /RB 

Reason behind only one screening - i always want my team on the front foot so i would try to overload my teams going forward by having a more forward thinking number 8.

If Red's win the ball then play to the small goal or large goal. (3 goals for the small and 1 for the big = no GK) Dont mind them being direct - long pass or clip straight at goal

To start I would like my defensive unit on the blue line 25 yards from goal. 

What If's :

 =Yellow 9 starts dropping into the 10 pocket? I would want one of CB to follow and/either Red 2/3 to tuck in to keep a tight unit 

I would ask the yellow 6 to screen and look to fill any pockets of space centrally


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Specific

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Specific
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Specific

Adaptations

Progressions - I Would add in Red 8 player and ask the defensive unit to make the gaps between them smaller so they will have to move as a unit more

Regressions - Take off a Yellow 6 or 8 / Turn them into a floater (Play for both teams who ever is in possession / Minimize the touches for yellow

Challenges - I will challenge the defensive unit to rotate and move together keeping their shape/ Red 2&3 to press aggressively and the triangle between 4/5/6 to press the yellow 10 to close space

Finally all as a defensive unit make sure they are ready to use emergency defending (stop the shot and protect the goal as a priority)

Conditions - defensive unit will start 20 yards from goals, this is where i want them to start and coach them through where i feel they need to be depending on the ball. Play is always restarted from the center 

Targets: Yellows to go express themselves and go score some goals / Red to defend as a unit, keep chances down to a minimal and if they can break out and score in either the 3 goals (Can they use the keeper as a player)


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 9v9 Game

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 9v9 Game
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9v9 Game

Yellow to have GK/ 2&3 / Mid unit (3) / Attacking unit (3)

Reds = GK / Back 4 / Mid unit of 3 / 1 forward

Adaptations

Progressions - Red to be on minimal touches and have a shot clock 

Regressions - Drop the tempo and maybe intervene more to give rest for the players

Challenges - Reds to now be more of a defensive unit in a game scenario. Can they still now defend the final 3rd but higher up the pitch and get their rewards to go and play. Have the confidence to look after the ball and find their attacking players (Red 9/10)

Conditions - Pitch is played in the final 3rd but restrict the angle on one end of the pitch to encourage the ball to go more direct in the wide areas.

Targets: Both teams to score but the Reds to minimize the Yellows chances and can they counter at pace.

Problem: Full back over loaded in a 1v2 

Solution : I would coach the full back to press the winger out wide and then ask part of the midfielder unit to follow any under lap. Overlaps - I would look for rotation between the defensive unit to stop the attack and send them back.

What If - Yellows are switch play but with no success in the final 3rd, ask them to go more direct to the 9  / Also ask the Red 9/10 to work with the rest of the defensive unit behind them to stop the switch and see if we can win the ball back to transition to score

last 3 minutes of the game i would set a challenge that the reds are 1 goal ahead in a cup final and the yellows have to go and score.


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