Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending in initial 3rd - Defensive Shape in a back 4

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Robert Murtagh

Profile Summary

Robert Murtagh
Name: Robert Murtagh
City: Lucan
Country: Ireland
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defending warm up

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defending warm up
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Defending warm up

Method: Warm up for Defending

Zone 1 - jogging and dynamic stretches.

Zone 2 - Agility ladder exercise and cone weaving - mimic footwork required to jockey

Zone 3 - Close down and retreat, players go 2v1 to close down the player and prevent him from getting past them, have to work as a team to stop progress. 

Zone 4 - closing down 2v3, attackers try to score into small goal, other defenders must prevent them (60 second rotations).

Coaching Points:



Zone 1 - jogging and dynamic stretches.

Zone 2 - mimic footwork required to jockey

Zone 3 - staying low and maintaining the defensive stance

Zone 4 - pressure/balance, communicate and work as a team, execute tackles.


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Back 4 Rondo

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Back 4 Rondo
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Back 4 Rondo

Method: Rondo 6v4

Mimics the teams back 4, GK, and CM. Players keep the ball away from the attacking team to get use to the direction of passes and movements they need to make to relieve pressure on themselves and help their team mates. The practice focuses solely on the back 4 becoming comfortable playing the ball around between themselves.

Reds must get 6 passes and score by passing the ball into either of the small goals. If blues win the ball they transition by scoring into the large goals, no minimum passes.

Coaching Points:


Movement - player need to move both horizontally and vertically to create space to open passing lanes.

Pass - pace must not be too soft to risk interception, pass to the back foot to allow team mates to play out into space.


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defending in a 4 transfer practice

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defending in a 4 transfer practice
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Defending in a 4 transfer practice

Method: Defending 4v3

Reds defend blues attack goals. Blues must get 5 passes to progress the ball from zone 1 to 3 and vice verse. Reds must begin from zone 2 every time the ball goes dead.

Coaching Points:

Positioning - Players must orientate themselves in relation to the ball, the goal, and opposition players to form a tight unit whilst also pressing to win the ball.

Pressure - the closest player must apply pressure, wingers to be pushed towards side line, central player to be sent one way. pressure applied through 'up fast, slow down, slide on, get low'.

Cover - next closest player to prevent through ball and be in a position to tackle if pressure player is beaten. Must be able to see their next player and the ball.

More Cover - Provide a cover to the initial cover, orientate body to see ball, team mates, and opposition nearest player.

Balance - position themselves in relation to the where the ball, goal, and 3rd opposition player is. Balance player should be able to see all of the other players on the pitch, and the ball.


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defending in a 4

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defending in a 4
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Defending in a 4

Method: Defending 4v3+1

Reds defend large goal and transition wide into 2 smaller goals. Emphasis on defending 3 channels at a time depending on the position of the ball. Blue 10 cannot leave the shaded area

Progression - blue 10 is free to roam.

Coaching Points:

Positioning - Players must orientate themselves in relation to the ball, the goal, and opposition players to form a tight unit whilst also pressing to win the ball. Back 4 instructed to step forward, defend small and compact.

Defending Principals - pressure, cover, more cover, balance.

Transitions - full backs get wide as quickly as possible to make the pitch big, transition forward as quickly as possible to catch opposition out while out of shape. Transitions into the small goals within 3 seconds are awarded 3 goals.


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 7v7 Free Game

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 7v7 Free Game
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7v7 Free Game

Method: 7v7 Free Game

No throw ins, players kick the ball in from the sideline, increases speed and likelihood of needing to make recovery runs from balls in behind.

Coaching Points:


Free practice to finish


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