Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Defending with Front 2

Setup (5 mins)

Welsh Game model reference – Switching play, breaking lines.

Attacking Transitions - Secure the first pass, switching play to the opposite side, Aim to build from the back to find the spare player.

Defensive Transitions – React quickly, desire to regain the ball, protect space between units, prevent split passes between players.

Method: Learning and Implementation phase. 

Ball moves, all red players adjust. Team, unit and individual pressing, covering and balancing. Start with strikers and work back from that with players reacting to team-mates in front of them or their unit.

Coaching Points:

• Nearest player to ball presses opponent
• Adjacent players provide cover and balance, preventing short out-ball
• Force blue players to play backwards or sideways
• If able to play forward, try force long pass
• Win the ball back as high up the pitch as possible
• Transition to attack by moving the ball forward or retaining possession  

Setup

We will use one half of the pitch to create relevant area sizes for the drill and have 2 small gates set on the halfway line 5yds in from the touchline.

1 cone to be placed on either touchline, halfway between edge of the box and the centre circle as a retreat line for the 4 blue midfielders.

Goals brought forward from other end to edge of the opposite penalty area with the pitch tapered in to transition into SSG.

As many balls as possible placed behind the server/coach’s box behind 1/2 way line.

Bibs in 2 different colours and right amount for the session. (Blue & Red)

14 players ideally with good passing ability (including GK and Server).

Speak to all players before the practice to arrange players into Teams/position, issue the objectives of the session and confirm session understanding. Re-affirm these out on the pitch before we play live ( Watch throughs). Blues will be managed and the reds will be coached.

Organization – Blue Team

Playing with a back 3 with 4 across midfield (replicate a 3-4-3/ 3-4-2-1)

The game starts with the server playing a ball into the GK, Blues aim is to play the ball from the back into the 2 scoring zones. Through the gates which counts as 1 pt or playing the ball back into the server’s feet counts as 2 pts.

Goal must be scored in opposite goal after initial pass - eg, ball goes to right FB, aim is to score in goal opposite side of pitch forcing switch of play each time.

Organization – Red Team

Playing with a No 9 a No10 and 4 Midfield  (replicate a 4-4-2)

Try to regain possession by any means possible and score a goal within 8 seconds

Start with 2 minutes of free play with no instructions about positioning etc. to check firstly that our setup is right.

Problem 2 (10 mins)

Problem 2 - 2 x 4 minute blocks 1 min rest

Blues have a 4 v 2 + Keeper

Manage the Blues - Play out from the back go alternative sides.

Coach the Reds playing a low press allowing Blues to play out. (Guide of discovery - Solve the problem)

Play - 4 minutes

Solution 1

No:9 & No:10 now start wider preventing the passing lines into the fullbacks from the CB's

We will now look to issue positional instructions to the players autocratically.

Allow CB's to travel with the ball retreating in line with the fullbacks keeping them central.

As CB exits the penalty area attacker engages to create 1 v1 

Detail - Angle and speed of press.

1: If the defender has a poor touch try and nick the ball to score.

2: Stop the pass to the FB's forcing it back to the keeper or playing it long.

3: Isolate into a 1v1 situation.

Around the ball – Midfield slide across to our strong area of the field reducing space.

Off the ball – 2nd striker retreats to prevent the switch to opposite FB.

What if'?

The keeper distributes the FB?

Solution.

WM travels to FB, midfield slide across, strikers retreat. Far side Striker tucks inside and other striker retreats but watches his position in relation to the 2 CBs preventing possession coming back forcing 1v1 in Reds favour.