Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Club Session Plan UEFA B - Defending in the Final 3rd 20114

Component 1 (10 mins)

Set Up

Players split between two team, 8 oranges and 8 yellows.

Split the 8 oranges between both sides of the goal, with one in goals.

Split the 7 yellows between both sides of opposite goal and also put one yellow in as striker.

Balls all start with the oranges.

Pitch size dependent on age of group being used.

Movement

Ball starts with orange, who are defending and played long from A to B (Yellows)

Yellow control the ball and two oranges come out to defend and press as high as they can quickly.

Two yellows bring out the ball from the opposite end and used the yellow striker to create a 3 v 2.

Looking for the 3 yellows to create space for opportunity to get shot away quickly and on target.

If oranges win the ball then shoot into empty goal for 1 point.

Switch oranges and yellows and repeat.

Coachable Points

Defenders to press the ball as early as possible, yellow 'forwards' work together to move defenders around and create space and opportunity for early shot, communication, playing with head up.

Phase of Play (15 mins)

Organisation

Phase of Play (8 v 7). Defenders line up in a 3-2-1 formation plus the GK. Attackers line up as a 3-2-3 including the feeder.

START

Feeder feeds the ball out to A1 or A2 who have two touches to play forward to attackers as the first ball. Feeder can join in play. If defenders win the ball, they have 5 touches as a team to score through the two mini goals.

Key Factors

Pressure- Nearest player to the ball, e.g. D5 closes down attacking full backs.

Low body position and side on positioning Adjust speed

Body shape- show inside to where there are more players to help

Stay on your feet

Cover as a team (defending triangles) to give support in front behind and to the side, e.g. if D1 is

beaten, D2 and D3 support and compact the play. Maximum of 15 to 20 yards distance between players in the defending triangle.

Cover as a team (defending triangles) to give support in front behind and to the side, e.g. if D1 is

beaten, D2 and D3 support and compact the play. Maximum of 15 to 20 yards distance between players in the defending triangle.

Decisions- do I mark the player or space? There are situations where a player does not need to mark the player directly but can position himself so that he makes play compact and blocks off space whilst still being able to close down the attacking player.

If marking the player, get tight and try to prevent the player from turning.

Defensive triangle

Defending as units to cover central areas- If ball is played out wide, the opposite full back shuffles across to cover the central areas

Tracking- opponents’ movement off the ball- judge how far we need to track back. Keep within the guiding triangle (15 to 20 yards maximum)

Play the offside system- don’t get too deep. Unless attackers are very fast in which case one of the defending players sweeps and clears up behind the defence (i.e. they don’t get caught square).

Communication- clear, concise and early. Determination- be first to win headers/ ball in the air.

HINT

As we are focusing on defending the defending third, the D players should not pressure too high up the pitch. Instead they are trying to compact play deep in their own half.