Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): #2 UEFA B Defensive Organisation in a 3-5-2 (Start Time: 2017-03-17 22:25:00)
Premier Users' Club
Mark Williams
Description
Developing understanding of defensive principles with a Back 3 in a 3-5-2
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15 mins
Key Factors
Putting theory into practice whilst also introducing wing-backs.
Coaching points
- as before, need for back 3 and CM's to be compact and prevent through passes.
- Wing-backs have a dual role; to attack but also to cover runs by opposition wingers
Organisation
Reds line up in a 3-5-0 formation (i.e. no strikers) with central midfield organised as 2 defensive CM and a No 10/AM
Blues are lined up in a 2-4-2 formation (i.e. 4-4-2 without the full-backs
The pitch is full width to encourage wing-backs in possession to attack. (This is important; in a real game, they would have offensive and defensive duties - because the theme of this session is defence, the temptation is for the wing-backs to be lazy and only defend.)
Pitch length is circa 65/70yds (i.e. 2/3 pitch length).
Blues aim to score in conventional goals whilst Reds score by clearing ball to Blue GK (dressed in yellow)
Offsides are enforced.
There are no corners - ball is played in from keepers.
Progressions
- if there is a further need to encourage wing-backs forward, can award two points for a cross to the yellow keeper from a wing-back in the Blue half of the field.
- to speed up Red counter-attacking, can impose condition of Maximum 3 passes before ball is played to Yellow GK
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15 mins
Key Factors
Most British players are familiar with playing in a Back 4 and accept the good pitch coverage that shape provides.
However, with the right players - supplemented by fit & hard-working wing backs - use of a Back 3 can provide a good balance between defensive strength and attacking numbers.
Organisation
To develop initial concepts, we are undertaking a Functional Practice where I am coaching the RED team who line up in a 3-2-1 shape (essentially a 3-5-2 without the wing-backs and strikers).
Because there are no wing-backs, the pitch is shrunk to a width of only 54 yards (i.e. 5yds either side of penalty area) and played in half a pitch.
In opposition, the Blues line up in a 1-2-2 (i.e. effectively a 4-4-2 but with only one CB in defence and no wingers).
The function starts with the Red GK launching the ball towards the Blue CB on the half-way line and the Blues then try to score.
Principles
The central player in the Back 3 acts as a spare man; sweeper or libero.
Typically, defenders in a conventional Back 4 would mark on the inside shoulder of their opponent (NB Demonstrate inside shoulder) but this leaves defender vulnerable to a ball out wide
As a result, in this case the two remaining CB's mark on the outside shoulder. (NB Demonstrate this. Ask "why do we do this? What could happen?")
The answer should bring up the importance of the sweeper in providing additional support for the CB's defending against the through ball. Should also highlight the importance of the 2 CM's as screens.
Key Points
- outside shoulder (as above)
- need for back 3 and 2 defensive screens to remain compact; requires communication
- check relative positions of back 3 and 2 screens to minimise risk of penetrating through-ball.