Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Midfield Third Defending

Warmup/ Act 1

Organization:

Players work in groups of four

Markers are set up to define midfield shape

Instructions:

The coach passes a ball to flanks

The receiving player step up and passes the ball back to the coach

White team shifts maintaining their shape

Coaching Points:

1. Distance between the four players should remain compact throughout.

2. Movements should be made quickly to deny space between players

3.Player on top of diamond is the one pressing on the side

4. When ball is back to coach, player on top of dimond presses.

5. Communication between players - pressure, cover, balance

Progressions:

Add 2 defenders 1 attacker

Conditioned

Organization:

Half field with a line 10 yards from halffield

Attacking group of six players and one server (three forwards and three midfielders)

Defending group of seven players and goalkeeper (four defenders and three midfielders)

Instructions:

Objective for the attacking team is to score into the goal, the group is advised to play into the central striker whenever possible

Objective for the defending group is to win the ball and score on the counter goal (marked out with flags)

When the ball goes out of play the exercise is restarted from the serving player

Players are limited to three touches to encourage quick ball movement and passes into the forward line

Coaching Points:

1. Shape in the midfield as the ball moves - compactness

2. Pressure on the ball, must be immediate and look to force the play wide

2. The holding midfield needs to screen passes into the central striker - body position, awareness

3. Distance between back line and midfield needs to be compact - back line should look to step up to deny space when passes are played backwards or sideways

4. Communication between units - central midfielders and defenders need to be vocal and help organize

Progressions: