Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Control the field - Control Space - Protect the Box Defensive Alignment

Def Alignment Protect the Box Animation (25 mins)

The phase of Play:

• Def

1/3 of the Field:

Principles of Play:

• Shaping the opponent
• POB
• Compactness, both vertically and horizontally

Organization:

• 5v4 transfer exercise.
• Ball is played into the red CB. Blue front line and 1 CM step into the zone to press and disrupt.
• Remaining blue CM balances off the field to communicate with teammates and also receive the blue pass once the ball is won.
• Red team possess the ball with the option to pass into the mini goals after a set number of passes. (Keep the number high, so that the players get used to keeping the ball under pressure and the blue team has learning moments).
• Red score, red retain the ball.
• Blue team wins the ball they can recycle to the blue #8.
• If the blue team win possession, they can bounce through the #8 and go directly to the mini goals after the transition if the red team is slow at responding.
• 6x4-mins game.
• Non-active team slowly jog around the field.

Expanded Exercise-

• Same elements as mentioned above, but add to the exercise that the IP team after set passes can pass to break the mid line for an advancing runner. If this occurs, the IP team has to cross the end line to score a point.

Key factors:

Learning Outcomes:

Protect the Box 5v4 (10 mins)

The phase of Play:

• Def

1/3 of the Field:

• Def 1/3

Principles of Play:

• Compact
• Shaping
• Condense

Organization:

• 3-points where ball can be played
• 5v4 with an offside line in operation.
• One of the IP attacking players can slide across into the opposite box to create the overload.
• Players locked into the box
• Break the offside line and go to 1v1 with the GK

Key factors:

• Angles of approach
• Shaping to deny
• Defensive line togetherness
• Communication
• Squeezing the field

Learning Outcomes:

Protect the box 8v8 Waves of Attack (20 mins)

The phase of Play:

• Def

1/3 of the Field:

• Def 1/3

Principles of Play:

• Compact
• Shaping
• Condense

Organization:

• 3-points where ball can be played
• (7v7/8v7 underload/ 8v8) with an offside line in operation.
• One of the IP attacking players can slide across into the opposite box to create the overload.
• Players locked into the box
• Break the offside line and go to 1v1 with the GK
• CONDITIONS- 
• Blue team - Has to go to goal within 5-passes of gaining possession.
• Blue must - Defend above the marked offside line
• Red team - Three players must touch the ball before penetrating the offside line to goal.
• Red team thoughts- Break lines with 1. passes 2. runs 3. dribbles

Key factors:

• Angles of approach
• Shaping to deny
• Defensive line togetherness
• Communication
• Squeezing the field

Learning Outcomes: