Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending Using a Back Four and Midfield Four

Set Up (10 mins)

Organisation:

Half Pitch Practice

Coached team - Reds:

GK, Back Four, Midfield Four

Attacking Team - Blues:

Two Fullbacks, MIdfield Four, Two Strikers

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Aims:

Blue Team attack the Goal.

Red Team Win the Ball Back and Score in Either Goal on the Halfway Line

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Rules:

Blue Full Backs must stay in their zones.

Offside Rule Applies.

Play Throw-ins

Ball can start from Coach

Ball Goes Wide to Opposition Winger (10 mins)

Situation:

-Ball is played to Opposition Winger

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Coaching Points:

-Red 2 shows down the line and looks to defend 1v1, Body Position to Show down the line, with help from Red 7 if he turns back, and Cover from Red 4 if he comes inside

-Red 7 doubles up and only allows player to play straight back to Full Back

-Red 6 moves across to prevent pass inside to ST feet

-Red 5 and 3 have shuffled over and are Ball+Man marking - can see ball and man in case of cross

-Red 8 can stay slightly Higher and looks to pickup any midfield runners that move forwards

-Red 11 is narrow but aware of opposition Winger and Fullback making forward runs, also in good position to pickup clearances and start an attack

Ball Goes Into Striker (10 mins)

Situation:

-Ball is played into Strikers Feet

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Coaching Points:

-Red 4 is touch tight behind Striker, not letting ST turn, not committing and allowing ST to go past them, forcing ST to move/pass backwards away from goal

-Red 6 pressures from the front

-Red 2, 5 and 3 drop off and narrow up to cover in case ST gets past Red 4

-Red 7, 8 and 11 drop and narrow up to condense the space around the ball