Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 10/25 HSC 06b Red - Defending Principles (Start Time: 2017-10-25 19:00:00)

Description

DOCHERTY PARK

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

PRIMARY FOCUS: Pressing and defensive principals

TECHNICAL - defending, pressuring, dribbling, moves/turns, passing and receiving

TACTICAL - defensive principals

PHYSICAL - agility, speed, quickness

PSYCHOLOGICAL - decision making, self-confidence

**Recognizing and acting upon key triggers to press**

- they have enough players in close vicinity of the ball to be able to press the ball (at least 3-5 players involved)

- players not involved in the press, recognize their roles, (a) to ensure that one long kick from the opposition being pressed does not end up going over the top of the remaining defenders into space for a runner to get behind the defense and in on goal.

(b) in a position to potentially win or intercept a pass which will gain them possession with the opportunity of springing a counter attack of their own

- any players that are the wrong side of the ball being pressed, recover immediately and quickly, either to join the pressing swarm or to recover goal side of the ball and be in a position to be one of the covering, interceptor players

GUIDING QUESTIONS:

1. Are there enough players close to the ball to be able to swarm the ball aggressively as a group?

2. Are the players on the wrong side of the ball, recovering quickly to join the swarm or recovering goal side to be a covering interceptor?

3. Are there players not in the swarm, in good positions to be covering interceptors? To deal with any long panicked passes over the top or to be able to intercept and put pressure on any poor or shorter passes to space or feet?

4. If the ball is passed, particularly short, can they still keep swarming around the ball, communicate and adjust to keep the swarm pressure on?

5. Speed, aggression, and pressure are the keys. So, can the ball be won back or a mistake forced in 3 – 6 seconds?

6. If the ball is won, can the team immediately counter attack? If not can they gain controlled possession?