Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending The Final Third - Session 1 (Specific Practice and SSG) (Start Time: 2024-08-01 20:00:00)

FAW Coach Ed

Nicolai Collins

Profile Summary

Name:	Nicolai Collins
City:	London
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Organisation (Practice Layout & Transition)

Half Pitch, two mini goals, line of flat disks.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defending The Final Third Specific Practice

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Defending The Final Third Specific Practice (15 mins)

Specific Practice Defending The Final Third

Practice Area: Half Pitch

Timings: Three Four Minute Sessions with one minute rest

Players: Fourteen Outfield and One GK

Note one player fixed to centre circle

Formation:4 -2 defending/2-2-3 attacking

Three Block titles:

Defend The Final Third From Central Overload/Defend the Final Third From Wide Overload/Manage Transition from Defending to attacking

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Block 1 Attacking team to be managed to play in wide areas - encourage two touches for attacking team if pace is too slow

Block 2 Attacking team to be managed to play centrally and create overloads - If positioning not correct on initial shape can regress to allow 10 seconds between every restart from centre circle to get shape. If shape is good can progress to allow the restart player to come as high as the edge of the D of the centre circle (indicated by the flats)

Block 3 - Unblocked practice with attacking team using a range of tactics - check for defensive understanding - 2 point for an attacking phase not resulting in a goal/1 point for scoring in a mini goal on transition - reflecting a hooked pass into the channel.

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Can the red team have a shot on goal within 30 seconds

Can the blue team win the ball within 30 seconds

How many backward passes by the reds can the blues force

Competition for who can win more points - 2 point for an attacking phase not resulting in a goal/1 point for scoring in a mini goal on transition - reflecting a hooked pass into the channel.

3 points for a goal (it should be tricky!)

Coaching Detail

Protect the middle of the pitch

Communicate to pass off number 9 depending on what side he's attacking

Force the opposition wide

Limit crosses into the box/Stop the cross

Stop the shot - force backwards or block

Deal with 1 v 1

GK position and micro adjustments to support protecting the goal/area or space

Blue team will be the team being coached. Red team managed by assistant coach. Blue team wont know what type of attack will be coming next and must react so that issues can be identified.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defending The Final Third (SSG)

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Defending The Final Third (SSG) (15 mins)

Red Team (Attacking team are set up in a 4-3-3 formation with only attacking players and one CB (1-3-3).

Blue Team (Defending team are set p in a 4-3-3 formation with only one attacker (4-3-1)

Although reds are attacking and have one player less they also have the goalkeeper who is operating as a key player (similar to an alternate side CB in possession).

The defensive side will be the side managed by the coach - they must not be any deeper than the edge of the D for the restart from opposition goalkeeper.

The focus of block 1 is that the defending team will look to defend final third attacks from wide areas (other coach will manage reds and ask that they attack through wide areas) - corners of the attacking teams defensive side are tapered off to encourage forward passing.

Restart always from red goalkeeper play is live from first pass. Blue team defenders allowed into channel as soon as pass enters the channel. Must focus on body shape, showing onto weaker foot/away from goal and decision making/deceleration.

Block 2 - reds encouraged to play direct - defensive principles from blues to maintain a straight defensive line and goalkeeper position to defend the space alongside communication and decision making.

Block 3 - test understanding of when to jump out into wide areas and when to stay narrow and compact. Remove tapering rules and adopt mentality of half/half defending. Can the defending team learn how to set traps and when these are activated - allowing space for diagonal balls etc.

Three four minute blocks with one minute rest in between.