Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Quick transition to defend inside the penalty area (out of possession)

FAW Coach Ed

Tiffany Lee

Profile Summary

Name:	Tiffany Lee
City:	Cwmbran
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Transition to defend in 1 v 1 duels with support players

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Transition to defend in 1 v 1 duels with support players (20 mins)

Objective:

Developing the transition from attack to defence in 1 v 1 situations close to the goal.

Description:

In the 20 x 40 yard area we have 2 full-sized goals with goalkeepers. There are 2 teams with 3 players each. Inside the area, there are 2 players in a 1 v 1 situation and the other 4 players (2 on each team) are outside at the sides with balls.

The practice starts with the 2 inside players passing the ball to each other until the coach gives his/ her signal. When the coach calls out, the player who has the ball becomes the attacker (blue in the diagram) and the other player (red) becomes the defender in a 1 v 1 duel.

Challenges:

When the players are passing the ball to each other at the beginning they are limited to 1 touch.
In the first 1 v 1, the players have unlimited touches.

Progressions:When the first phase of attack finishes, the roles of the players change - the attacker (blue) becomes the defender and the defender (red) becomes the attacker.
As soon as the first phase is finished, the coach calls out 'left' or 'right' which determines which outside player in the other half is going to cross a new ball into play.Both players run quickly towards the other goal for a new 1 v 1 battle, fighting for the ball that is crossed by the outside player.
Challenges: In the second 1 v 1, the players are limited to 2 touches.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Quick transition to defend 1 v 1 inside the penalty area with a dynamic 8 v 8 SSG

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Quick transition to defend 1 v 1 inside the penalty area with a dynamic 8 v 8 SSG

Description:

Using half the pitch we create a playing zone approximately 35 x 55 yards. We have 2 full-size goals and play a normal 8 v 8 game within the zone. The teams can use the same or different formations and all players are numbered (1-7). We also have a goal and a goalkeeper in the normal position with 2 players (yellow) near the sidelines, ready to cross balls into the penalty area.

The practice starts with one of the team's goalkeepers (blue) and we play a normal 8 v 8 game. When one team finishes an attack, the coach calls out a number and a side (e.g. 4 - right). The 2 players who have their numbers called out then quickly run into the penalty area for a 1 v 1 duel.

The cross is delivered from the side that the coach calls out (left or right). The player from the team that just finished their attack makes a transition from attack to defense (blue 4 in the diagram), trying to prevent the opponent from scoring. The opposing no. 4 (red) tries to score.

Once the 1 v 1 is finished, the practice starts again in the main zone from the red team's goalkeeper, with the team roles and objectives reversed.

Coaching points:

The player in the transition from attack to defence needs to have quick reactions and make sure to get into position inside the penalty area before the opposing attacker.
The defender should get the goal side of the attacker and side-on to the ball, before making a clearance.

Technical/ Tactical points:
In possession

Find the spare player
Exploit the numerical advantage (when & how)
Make the pitch big - Width and Depth in the attack.
Fast passes and forward movement to create 2 v 1 or 3 v 2.
Commit the opponent.
Overlap/ Underlap
Weight & accuracy of final pass - can the player finish shooting 1st time?
Player movement to create the overload.
Interchange positions (rotate)
Ball speed.

Out of possession:

Press quickly - prevent forward passed/ block passing lanes.
Protect the middle/ central area - stay narrow and compact
Leave the furthest player.
Protect against split passes/ blocking passing lanes.
Stay narrow & compact/ protects space behind.

Physical considerations - a 1-minute break between blocks for interventions and to also allow for recovery before progressing.

Psychological - conditions, challenges, and targets make players think and problem solve (Guided discovery, trial & error). Scoring systems make players think about the best movements.

Social-team discussions, questions, and answers between players and coaches. Coach-athlete relationship allowing for involvement in decisions.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Quick transition to defend inside the penalty area in a dynamic 8 v 8 SSG

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

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Quick transition to defend inside the penalty area in a dynamic 8 v 8 SSG

Description:

In this drill, we extend the size of the large zones up to the penalty spot and replace the 2 smaller goals with a full-sized goal on either side and with goalkeepers.

We have an 8v8 situation in the large zone with the outfield players. Each team also has a goalkeeper and the red team have another 2 players (yellows) near the sidelines, ready to cross balls in. The teams can use the same or different formations.

We start with the blue team's goalkeeper and the blues build up play and try and score a goal. When the blue team finish an attack, the coach calls out a side (left or right). At this point, 3 players from each team quickly run into the final zone to contest an incoming cross.

The cross is delivered from the side that the coach calls out (left in diagram). The players from the team that just finished their attack (blues) make a transition from attack to defence, trying to prevent the 3 red players from scoring.

If the red team score or the ball goes out of play, the practice starts again from the blue team's goalkeeper. If the blues intercept the ball, the game carries on as normal.

Progression:

An unlimited amount of players from both teams can make runs to attack/ defend the cross.

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