Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): Defensive Principals - Mid block (Start Time: 2023-01-11 19:00:00)

5 v 3 Rondo (15 mins)

5 v 3 (or 6 v 3) Mid Block.

Activating press, cover, balance for the later tactical situation game, this 5 v 3 rondo is focused on the 3 central players defending in a mid block to force play around.

The red team must try to work the ball to an opposite end target player (T) within 10 passes for a point. If the central players can repel any penetration (around or through, over not permitted). They get rewarded with a point.

Communication is key from the blue team to coordinate a staggered shape with respect to ball position at all times to avoid getting flattened out and penetrated. Addiitonally, defenders should continually scan their shoulders to understand where to cover the killer pass through.

Rounds can last 90 seconds to 2 minutes.

Progression

Make one outiside player central to disupt the 3 and add a further dimension.

If at any point the central player can be pressed where the defenders have the numerical superiority, they should look to do this and drive out of the rondo for a point upon ball recovery.

DO2 Progression (20 mins)

Defensive organisation 2 (DO2) Press, Cover, Balance/Protect

Objectives

1. Press: Defenders need to press and get as close as they possibly can to prevent the ball from being played forward. Defenders also need to be aware of the attacker behind to block passing options into them. (Press to contain)

2. Cover: Defenders need to be able to press and recover quickly to offer cover to their teammates. Covering players need to be behind their teammates and be in a position to block the pass to the attacker behind them.

3. Protect/Balance: If the defenders are beaten with a pass, the covering player must recover to get in front of the attacker and delay the attack, while their defending teammate recovers to a position behind them to cover.

Instruction

Two players from the attacking team (in this case Reds) pass the ball between them with a minimum of 2 touches. At the right moment, the objective of the attackers is to pass to the player in the central channel (Pink) who then must turn and look to shoot on goal.

Blues need to prevent the forward pass into the player in the middle. If they win the ball, they can score in the goal. However, if the pass is successful, the defenders can recover to prevent the attacker (Red) from shooting.

Once either team scores or the ball goes out of play, the attackers (in this case Reds) go to the opposite side to become defenders and the defenders (Blue) leave the area and join the back of their team to create a wave game. The player in the middle (Pink) returns to the central channel to look to receive the ball again from the opposite team.

Progress to 3 v 3 (triangle and diagonal lines of defense)

Progress to 4 v 4 2 x triangles, 2 diagonal lines to defend.