Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defending - Delaying play by directing into wide areas to win possession

Pressing Rondos

5v2 Rondos 

This practice is focusing on the defensive pairing in the middle of the rondo and their position to force the play in one direction as well as screen possible passes into central areas or changes of direction.

Set Up

• Area set up about a 5m by 5m square.
• 4 in possession players set up on the outside with 1 in the middle.
• Two defending players in the middle.

Explanation/Coaching Points

• Defensive pair must look to force the in possession players to pass one way around the rondo.
• They must consider their positioning to prevent the in possession team from changing directions or playing through the middle of the square whether it be via the central player or a direct pass across.
• As the ball travels around the outside players, the defending players must alternate who is forcing the play one direction and who is screening the central area. This is based on who the nearest player is.
• Defending players can look to intercept under hit passes or step in to win the ball off poor first touches.

SSG - Pressing to win the ball in wide areas

7v7 (+GK) Positioning Game 

This practice is focusing on the defensive positioning of the team out of possession and their positioning to force the play in one direction to win the ball in wide areas. A consideration for the out-of-possession team is that once the play is in the wide area, not to allow a pass back into the central area.

Set Up

• Area set up as a pitch at about 50m by 40m(?) with goals at each end. The is divided into three vertical channels highlighting wide and central areas. End zone to simulate a penalty box.

Explanation/Coaching Points

• In possession team to set up with a 3-1-3 (LB-CB-RB-MF-LW-RW-S) formation
• Team in possession should look to spread across all three vertical channels. 
• They must look to maintain possession to try and build up and score.

• Team out of possession must set up in a 3-3-1 and look to protect the central channel and prevent outlet passes and easy play through this area.
• The team out of possession must attempt to win possession of the ball using their positioning and body shape to force play into wide areas where they can prevent any outlet passes into the central channel/switches of play and close down space on the player in possession. 
• They must look to try win the ball of a bad touch, poor pass or intercepting passes.
  
  
• Restarts always occur with the GK. GK cannot play in until the teams are set up. If a team scores the ball restarts with their GK.

Individual Player Tasks

1.  The #9 body shape and positioning forces the in possession CB (#4) to play into one of the FB (#2 or #3). 

2.  Positioning and body shape of the wingers/wide midfielders (#7/#11) must be so that it prevents the CB playing a pass    centrally to a midfielder or a higher line encouraging the in possession CB to play into the FB in the wide area.

3.  The non-ball side winger/wide midfielder should move in towards the centre of the pitch and encourage the midfielder    to move across also.

4.  The winger/wide midfielder (#7/#11) must be positioned above their opposing fullback so their movement to press    their touch is at an angle that prevents passes into the central midfielder but also forward to the attacking line.

5.  The out of possession midfielder and defensive unit (CB and 2xFB) intend to be tight man-to-man marking on their    direct opponents creating a high risk for any passes into those areas.

6.  The out of possession midfielder must also be aware that their player might become support underneath for the    forwards to set to if their fullback or CB can get a pass into the higher line.

7.  The out of possession midfielder and defenders must also be prepared to go into zonal defence and swap their     marked players if the forward player drops a line and the midfielder goes beyond.

*PROGRESSION: These actions do not have to only occur on restarts playing out from the back or when the GK has possession but can also occur higher up the pitch when a team recycles through a CB - to simulate this as coach I can feed a ball into the CB and GK for a live restart and then coach the players to react accordingly.

• Timing now becomes important if executing in live play. The striker and wingers/wide midfielders must still consider protecting the central channel but might be conservative in how hard their press is based on the organisation of their support behind them.
  
  
• Can the defenders and midfielders communicate to the striker and winger/wide midfielder on when to press and when to hold based on how organised they are.

Training Game

Training Game

Finish with a 7v7 or if there is another team training that would allow us to play in 11v11.