Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Pressure, Cover, Balance in a Counter-press: (1) Pressure (U14)

Pro-Club: RBNY Academy Inc

Juan Figueira

Profile Summary

Name:	Juan Figueira
City:	Hillsborough
Country:	United States of America
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Learning Outcomes:

1. The objective here is to understand the role of the first defender in a high-press.
2. Understand how and why it is important for the first defender to press aggressively.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Overview

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Overview

Defending: Pressure, Cover, Balance in a Counter-Press (Session 1 of 5)

Session 1: The pressure

The objective is teach the concept of pressure, cover and balance in counter-pressing defending over a series of 5-6 sessions. In this one we will focus on the pressure first defender (the #9 forward) in a 1-4-2-3-1 and 1-4-3-3. Over all five session we will aim to paint the picture above.

In Session 1, we will focus SOLELY on the pressure defender: his/her intensity of the press, when to press and how to press.

Relevant Coaching Points for Pressure Defender:

(1) Who is the first defender? The player closest to the ball (circumstantial).

(2) Individual pressure is intense; the goal is to force the opponent to put his/her head down as pressure is coming towards, intimidate.

(3) Pressuring at an angle to make play predictable and eliminate options.

5ws

- What: Pressuring opponent player on the ball.

- When: When opponent has the ball.

- Why: In order to recover possession.

- Who: First defender or player closest to the ball.

- Where: Anywhere on the field, except defenders when press gets broken (here, we delay).

What ifs?

- What if first defender does not succeed in press?

- Global:If press gets broken past first defender, then cover player pressures, if cover player also gets beaten, balance players has to measure whether to step up or if it delays (decision based on circumstances).

- #3 - Do I go or stay? What if pressure gets broken up?

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Introduction

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Introduction (15 mins)

Organization:

4 station/cones in L-shape, with each cone 8 meters apart.
1 player at each cone (4 players total).
2 gates, one of them in the same vertical line as the last station (A) and the second gate (B) 8 meters diagonally from the last station.

Instructions:

Player in starting cone (1) passes to player in second cone. After passing he/she sprints to small gate (A).
Meanwhile, ball is making its way by passing to final station, once this player receives he/she dribbles through gate B.
If player (1) makes it to A first than player (4) dribbling through B, then player (1) gets a point.
Rotation is chronological, 1 goes to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, 4 to 1. Play continuously and keep track of points.
Play for 7 minutes and move to progression.

Coaching Points/Questions:

Coaching Point (1)
- Player 1: Can we sprint as fast as we can! All out sprint off the ball
- Encourage high energy and fast pace in the sprints: maximize sprint through the gate

Regressions/Progressions:

Rather than sprinting/dribbling to gates, it becomes a 1v1 to see who scores on mini goal

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Main Activity

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Main Activity (30 mins)

Organization:

Possession team starts at top: 3 starting gates (A,B,C)
Defending team (red) starts from the side of the mini goals (3 defenders).
3v3 (Attacking vs Defending team).

Instructions:

Team on possession (white) enters the field (3 players) and tries to score on mini goals.
Defending team (red) enters as soon as white team is in. If red team steals the ball, they pass for points (3 passes = a goal).
For attacking/possession team (white), play is done when it scores or if play goes out of bounds.
Defending team (red) stays until they get 3 points (9 passes in total) or after 5 switches/changes from the attacking team.
Encourage team on possession to start quickly, don't wait!
Both teams go for 7 minutes (twice).

Coaching Points/Questions:

Coaching point (2)
- Who is the first defender? (player closest to the ball)
Coaching point (3)
- Force opponent to panic and look down

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Conditioned Game

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Conditioned Game (20 mins)

Organization:

5v5 game in full field (GK + 4 field players).
4-minute games, winning team stays on.

Instructions:

Teams score regularly, but for the goal to count all players have to over the half (not GKs).
Players can also score by completing 7 passes in a row.

Coaching Points/Questions:

Coaching point (4)

When do we go at an angle?

Other relevant:
- First defender: can we recognize opposition quickly and press?
- Rest of the team, can we stay compact in order to help first defender?

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Game

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Game (30 mins)

7v7 scrimmage with 14 minute halves. Re-state coaching points from previous sections when relevant in the game.

Movement

Pass

Dribble