Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending the Final Third

Screen 1

• Attacking Team (Blue)  to try and break down the defending team (Red) and score into the big goals
• If Defending team (Blue) win the ball back they have 8 seconds to try and counter and score in the small goals
• If they dribble passed half way line = 1 point
  
• Ball starts with the Feeder so attacking team are always in attack in this practice
• Defending team must try to work as a unit to stop the Blue team from scoring

• 8 v 8
  
• Area Size - 70 yards x 70 yards = 4900m squared
• 4900/16 = 306.25m Squared
  
• 1 minute walkthrough
• 1 x 7 minutes block with freeze coaching

Coaching Points

Defending Team (Blue)

• Stop the blue team playing through the center and force wide

• Body shape when being approached for a 1v1 (Force wide, Side on stance, Bend in the knees and balance over hips for quick push off) triggers on when to press (Bad pass, bad touch) (If long switch of play can you press on first touch)
  

• #6 sliding across in relation to play to stop the Blue #9 getting the ball into feet for a turn and strike, if LB or RB presses wide step into there space and #8 will cover the area of the #6.
  

• #8 Pressing or delaying in relation to the ball, if pressing press with a curved run to force Blue team down one side of the field and not through the middl, Rotation with the #6 Trying not to go wider than the width of the 18 yard box
• #11 try and stay high (The edge of the D on the halfway circle) to stop the centre backs of the oposing team time to play. Be on the side of play. Curve runs to press to force blue team wide and not through the center.
  

• #4/#5 one sweeping and one playing higher, sliding across and covering in relation to play.Trying to stay within the width of the 18 yard box.
  

• #2/#3 press or delay in relation to defensive shape. If Pressing can you force a mistake and force down the line. If ball is in oposite side of play try and be between the penalty spot and the back post. IF ball is central play between the width of the 6 yard line and 18 yard line
  

Touch on pitch geography

• Can the back line press up in between the D on the 18 yard and the Semi circle of the half if the ball is with the Centre backs of the opositions
  
• Can the 8 and 6 link up, If 6 presses can the 8 replace position, try and keep the oposition 8 between them so they cant prenetrate through the middle
  
• Can the back line be within 10 yards of the next unit
  

Red Team

• Quality of pass - fast and frim, move the ball quickly to try disrupt the defensive shape of the blue team
• Quality of strike - Get the strike away fast and hit the ball within the frame
• Transition quickly from attack to defence

Challenges/Conditions/Targets

• Can the defending team score within 8 seconds, counts as 2 goals
• Opposing Centre backs are on 3 second time limit on the ball
  
• Can you dribble over the half way line
  
• Offsides are in play
• if to easy Blue team may be limited to 2 touch unless in on goal
• Blue team centre backs cant travel passed the half way line