Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): C Certificate- Practical Assessment (Defending as a Team) (Start Time: 2025-01-31 13:05:00)

FAW Coach Ed

Caitlin Seaborne

Profile Summary

Name:	Caitlin Seaborne
City:	Caerphilly
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Session Topic: Defending as a Team

Session type: Traditional (Intensive)

Number of players: 8-10

Learning objectives:

-2 vs 2 Defensive Principles

-To understand and apply the key principles of defensive positioning in small sided areas, covering and pressure on the ball.

-Decision Making under pressure.

-How to manage situations under high pressure from the losing team.

-Teams reactions and game management in winning scenarios.

-Focusing on compact defending, communication with players, tactical discipline when leading 1-0 and dealing with constant high pressure attacks.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Skilled Session Design

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Skilled Session Design (15 mins)

Session Topic: Defending as a Team

Session Type: Traditional (intensive)

Equipment:

-Whistle + Stopwatch

-Number of players: 8-10

-Mini Goals x 4

-Full sized Goals x 2

-2 different coloured bibs (Red, Blue)

-Balls x 10

-Cones/ Flat

Area size: 25 yards x 15 yards each half

Practice Description:

-Players will split into two teams of 4-5.

-Players will perform the practice in pairs.

-Players labelled A are the attacking team (red team), Players Labelled D are the defending team (Blue team).

-In pairs players will set up as shown on the design.

-To begin, 1 pair from blue team will start on the opposite side, standing on the line of flats.

-Red team will begin in possession.

-Red teams' aim is to dribbling past the defending team and stop the ball on the goal line. (goals are added as a progression)

-Blue teams aim is to win the ball and gain possession or to stop play and protect their area.

-Once ball is out of play, The red team will sprint over to the opposite side to defend the blue team who are now attacking. (roles are now reversed)

-The Blue team from the previous round are now out of the game and will walk back to where their team is positioned.

-The practice is continuous until coach blows the whistle.

Points System:

-1 Point if ball is recovered successfully.

-1 Point if attacking team and stop the ball on the goal line/ score.

-Double points if a defender can recover the ball and score.

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Progression 1:

-Add mini goal from the attacking team (Blue team now needs to defend their goal.)

-Attacking team can not score unless they're over the halfway line.

Progression 2-

-Add mini goal for the Defending team. (if possession is won Defending team has 5 seconds to score)

Regressions:

-Players will work on one side of the area (normal 2 vs 2)

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Condition:

-Defending team has 5 seconds to score.

-Attacking team cannot score unless their over the halfway line.

Challenge:

-Can you defend in a 1 vs 1.

-Can you force the player wide.

Target:

-To win the ball in 7 seconds.

-To Win the ball and score x 2.

Coaching Points:

Defending Mechanics (FAW GUIDE)

1.Get in line

2.Pressure on the ball

3.Deceleration

4.Body Position

5.Stay on your toes

6.Be patient

7.Decision

8.Recovery runs (movement)

9.Tracking Players

Work to Rest: 2min x 30 seconds (2min x 2min = 4 minutes)

Total: 5 minutes + 1-2 minutes for interventions= 7 minutes

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): SSG Session Design

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SSG Session Design (15 mins)

Set up:

-Full sized goals are pushed up to the touch line, mini goals to be pushed back 5 yards away from practice.

-Balls are positioned in both goals.

- 5 vs 5: One team focus on defending (blue) one teams focus is attacking (red)

-Players roles will reverse after 3 minute block. (Red Team defending, Blue Team attacking)

Area size: 35 yards x 25 yards

SSG Practice:

Scenario for the attacking team: Blue team are currently 1-0 up.

-Same scenario for the blue team when they become the attacking team.

-Aim of the scenario is to put pressure on the defending team, forcing decision making under high pressure.

-Defending team will set up with 2 defenders 1 holding midfielder and one striker + GK.

-Attacking team will set up with 1 defender, 2 midfielders and 1 striker. (GK is acting as a sweeper/ defender.)

Work to rest: 3 min x 1 min (2 x 3 min blocks= 6 minutes) total time: 8 minutes

Ball rolling time: 11 minutes for whole practice.

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions)

Progression:

-Add to scenario (Defending team have gone 2-0 up (Attacking team shape change: 2 strikers)

Challenges: If defending team loses possession (can we get everyone behind the ball)

Conditions:

Targets: Win the ball back within 7 seconds and score for 2 goals.

Coaching Points:

-In possession for defending team get high and wide (give continuous options for your team mates.

-Out of possession defending team to get narrow and compact (every player must mark someone.)

5 Corner Toolbox:

Physical: Intensive session, work to rest ratio, pitch size is small and compact (How to defend in tighter areas)

Psychological: Points system for the Skilled practice, 1-0 Scenario for the SSG.

Tactical: SSG Shape from a defensive perspective when out of possession and in possession.

(Player positioning- "limit the oppositions options" (Farrugia)

Technical: Defending mechanics.

Social: Applying team captains in SSG (Defenders) who's aim is to communicate effectively with their team, example: if a player is unmarked/ player needs to apply pressure on the ball.

The Interventions I'm going to use:

-Team Meetings (Discuss what's expected from them)

-Freeze

-Bullseye

-Specific Concurrent feedback/ information

-Apply (Realistic: Challenges, Conditions, Targets)