Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): DTS - Final 3rd

Screen 1 (20 mins)

Defending the Final 3rd - General

Layout

• Pitch Size - 40x30 (including channels)
• 5v5 (+2) + 3 Neutral  - 15 total
• 4 Red, 4 Blue, 4 Black
• Balls
• 2 Goals
• 3x6 minute blocks 

Explanation:

Working with the Out of Possession team to defend the final third

The pitch is split into 3 zones to represent the 3 thirds of the pitch, with 2 outside channels. The session will consist of a 5v5 (+2 GK's) wave game, with 3 neutral players (1 in the middle and 2 wide) who will work with the in possession team.

Possession will start with the GK of the in possession team who can distribute to his own team or the neutral players. The out of possession team will look to dispossess and press to defend the final 3rd, utilising pressing, pushing and communication to prevent the in possession team creating chances centrally or out wide. If a goal is scored, or the ball is out of play, the in possession team restarts from their goalkeeper. 

Conditions / Challenges:

- Can the out of possess

- Introduce what if scenarios 

- If the session is too one sided, look to rotate team

- Potential limit of touches on the neutral players

- At least one in possession player in each zone - Out of possession players can leave zones

- Cannot enter the wide zone 

Technical / Tactical Coaching Points:

(Out of Possession)

• Defend the final 3rd, utilising pressing, pushing to close space 
• Communication 
• Shape without the ball
• How can they look to counter if they win the ball? Choice of distribution 
• Compactness - cutting off the lines
• When wide, how do they shape up to defend final 3rd? - Play in front 

Coaching Interventions:

Concurrent and Terminal

Ensure demonstrations and rationale followed