Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending when Outnumbered

Defending when out numbered (30 mins)

Description - Warm up session. Servers on the outside play ground passes (2), left foot, right foot, then red players spin to get another ball from an outside player. Change over & repeat. Continue this with low wide volleys (ball served outside the line of the body), high instep volleys, thigh passes, chest-volley, headers or any combinations that you need.

Technical - control the intensity as it is only a warm up. Insist on good technique.

Tactical

Physical - pulse raising, mobility, game specific movements/actions

Psychological/Social - cooperative (service)

Learning Objectives

Defending when out numbered (30 mins)

Practice organisation

• Area 50x40yds set-out in three areas with goals at each end,

as illustrated.

• 14 players (incl. 2GKs), with Defenders initially having

a 3v2 advantage in own half.

• Practice starts with: GK rolls ball-out to Attacking team.

• Play has to build through mid area, with one A able

to enter to make 3v1.

• Play moves into D’s half with 2A’s able to join-in

& make 4v3 advantage.

• D’s have to prevent A’s from scoring whilst outnumbered.

• If D’s gain possession: they look to quickly

counter-attack opponents.

• Roles of players changes when play is reversed.

Detail

• Allocation of marking & covering roles when having

defensive advantage.

• Early decisions as to who confronts the player in possession

when ball enters defending third & roles of other D’s.

• Pressing ball & deflecting attacking play away from central goal

scoring areas when outnumbered.

• Constant changes of role & responsibility.

• Maintaining safe defensive structure when counter-attack

is initiated.

• Simple progression for this practice is:

- D from middle zone can recover to the defending zone,

to make 4v4.

Key coaching points

• D’s organise strategy with numerical advantage

of 3v2.

• Quick re-organisation required to deal with

numerical disadvantage of 3v4.

• On gaining possession: quick adjustments

necessary to initiate counter-attack..