Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Group 2 Term 1 Week 6a - Defending Principles (Deny penetration with a low to mid block) (Start Time: 2022-03-08 07:00:00)

Warm Up (15 mins)

Warm Up

Organisation:

• Cones 10-12 yards apart
• 16-20 players (Groups of 4) 
• 2 GK (May join in or conduct separate warm up with GK Coach) 

• Jogging
• Open / Close Gates
• Hamstring Kicks
• Hamstring Sweeps
• Dynamic Hamstring
• Quad
• Groin
• Calf Stretches
• Squat
• Lunge
• Calf Pops
• Skips
• Plyometrics
• Strides

Rondo:

• 5v2
• 8 x 8 yards
• Change players inside every 45 secs
• 5 mins max

5 Defensive Principles:

Delay, Depth/Cover, Balance, Concentration, Composure/discipline (Shape)

Orientation Phase (15 mins)

Orientation Phase (Length)
Objective – To stay compact and deny central penetration with a low-mid block defending.

Number of Players – 16-18 players (7v6 or 8v6 + 2 BLUE Targets + 2 GK)

Players Involve - #2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 + 9 and 11 on BLUE / 3 or 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 on RED.

Field Size – 55 L x 60 W

Duration – 4 Intervals of 3 minutes with 1 minute break in between intervals with a total of 15 minutes.

Rules – Ball always begins with RED team on any restart. BLUE team defends full size goal. RED team will try to penetrate by unbalancing the BLUE team with numbers up, runs and combinations in between lines. BLUE team will work on preventing the RED team to play through the lines by staying compact and to connect with the midfield targets. If the BLUE team win the ball they can score in either of the mini goals = 1 point OR connect with a target to score = 2 points.

Focus Team BLUE Principles – DELAY (Pressure or Drop off), DEPTH/COVER and BALANCE  

Sub Principles – Immediate Pressure, Make Game Predictable, Shifting.

Coaching Interactions – On BLUE to stay organized at all times. To deny penetration by closing and covering the crucial space on the passing lines. #2, 3, 4, and 5 need to establish a constant communication with the #6 and #10 to work together and keep the central area tight to have the opportunity to block or intercept the ball.

Coaching Guidance:

What should happen? Deny penetration on the midfield line.

Where on the field? In our defensive half, entering the defending third.

Who are the players involved? #2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8/10.

When is this exactly happening? When opponents trying to drag our lines out by playing wide and find combinations to penetrate in central areas in our defensive half.

Why should it happen this way? To prevent the opposing team to go towards our goal. Forcing the opponents to stay away from goal.

Implementation Phase - Game (25 mins)

Implementation Phase (Game)

Objective – To implement the work from the past three activities in this session and execute in a more realistic scenario.

Number of Players – 20 total (9v9 + 2 GK).

Players Involve - #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 on BLUE / 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 on RED.

Field Size –  75 L x 70 W

Duration – 2 Intervals of 12 minutes with 3 minute break in between intervals with a total of 19 minutes.

Rules – Regular game rules. 

BLUE team (4-4-1) working on the block defending when opponents has possession of the ball.

RED team (3-1-2-3). 

RED team will try to penetrate by unbalancing the BLUE team with quick ball circulation and numbers up, runs and combinations in between lines. BLUE team focuses is to work on preventing the RED team to play through the lines by staying compact. 

Focus Team BLUE Principles – COMPACTNESS as a team. Remembering the 5 principles of Delay, Depth, Balance, Concentration and Composure to deny penetration. 

Coaching Interactions – On BLUE to remain compact and organized at all times. To deny penetration by closing and covering the crucial space on the passing lines. #3, 5, 4, and 2 need to establish a constant communication with the #6, 10, 7 and 8 to work together to keep the central area covered and make the play predictable forcing the opponent to play wide instead through central areas. 

Visual cue to press and try to win the ball? when opponents trying to play through our block of two flat lines by having the opportunity to block or intercept the ball. To make sure that don't get caught unbalance in behind and attached the goalkeeper to the back line to prevent this.

Coaching Guidance:

What should happen? To force the opponents to play predictable by playing wide to deny penetration through the central areas and force mistakes to win he ball away from our goal if possible.

Where on the field? In middle third or entering the defensive third.

Who are the players involved? #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

When is this exactly happening? When opponents are circulating the ball side to side and trying to drag our lines out by playing wide and trying to find combinations to penetrate in central areas from mid to defensive third.

Why should it happen this way? To prevent the opposing team to go towards our goal. Forcing the opponents to stay away from goal.