Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending the Lines (442 v 433) - Offensive Half - Copy

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Set-Up/Practice Layout: 

Coached team set up from 442 diamond formation with midfield 4 and front 2, playing against opposition set up from 433 with defensive four and midfield 3.

Practice played on half-pitch with two target goals on half-way line to represent playing into channels between CB/FB for Winger/Striker to run into.

Session organised into four blocks of 5 minutes with two minutes between blocks:

Block 1: Develop understanding of task, allow players to explore problems faced.

Terminal - Outline problem of overload in wide areas and potential solutions

Block 2 - Solution 1 - Mid-Block

Terminal - Outline problem of need to win ball back and outline solution

Block 3 - Solution 2 - High press

Terminal - Outline need to switch between the two approaches & outline pressing triggers

Block 4 - Alternate between pressing and sitting off.

Coaching Plan

Problem 1 - Playing diamond midfield means opposition can create 2v1 using FB and Winger vs our FB.

Solution 1 - We have to funnel opposition inside where we can create 4v3 overload.

Problem 2 - Playing front 2 vs defensive 4 creates a 2v4 underload (2v5 inc. GK). Opposition should be able to play around front 2.

Solution 2a - We choose to allow opposition CB to have the ball and Strikers sit deeper and wider to prevent passes to FBs. (Block 1)

Solution 2b - Our CAM steps into front line to create front three and we defend 3v5 underload.

Problem 3 - Opposition manage to work ball to FB who can beat press of our front line

Solution 3 - Ball side CM (7/8 in image above) have to react quickly to put pressure on FB whilst preventing forward pass, particularly to winger.

Block 2 - Utilising mid-block

We allow opposition CB to have ball, and prioritise preventing them from being able to play around us into target goals. 9 and 11 split onto full backs, taking position a few yards more narrow & more deep than their FB (i.e. don't get done over top and cut line-ball). Out 10 marks their 4, 8 & 7 mark 8 & 10. Our 4 is free to sweep up behind and prevent balls through our block. If their 4 chooses to drop in to create back three, 10 lets them go, and focuses on cutting passing lanes into feet of their 8/10. 

Block 3 - High Press

10 steps into front line and we transition into a front 3 shape. 9 and 11 split wide to mark FB and 10 looks to cut the pitch in half and stop their CBs from switch from side to side. Either 8/7 jumps onto their 4 and our 4 jumps onto their 8/10. From this shape we look to make play predictable and press the player on the ball to win it back.

Block 4 - Alternating

Set-up in the block 2 shape, and wait for an opportunity for our CAM to jump and press their CBs following a pressing trigger (poor touch, slow ball speed etc.). Then CAM will jump to press, far side CM jumps onto their CDM and our CDM jumps to their free CM. Far side winger becomes slightly narrower, but retains a position where they can affect either the CB or FB if they get the ball.

Interventions - Largely coaching process or terminal, reinforce messages with concurrent or to correct minor errors.

Challenges, Conditions, Targets 

Determined by block (i.e. Block 2 challenge to prevent team from playing out of defensive third, Block 3 challenge to win ball back quickly). No specific conditions. Targets are to score in large goal (coached team) or targets goals on half-way (opposition).