Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Losing the Ball in the Final Third

Shadow Defending (10 mins)

-40x30 area

-Half of players with ball

-Players with ball dribble around the area

-A defender closes down the player with the ball and player with ball dribbles at them

-Defender stays tight and drops in defensive postion but not actually winning the ball

-After a few dribbles attacker gives ball to defender and they switch roles while finding someone else

Emphasis:

-Proper closing down technique (Accelerate/deccelerate, angle of approach, stay low, move feet and contain, push attacker to one side)

Progression:

-Live play trying to beat defender

2v3 Recovery to Goal (15 mins)

-2v3 in 40x30 area

1x15' game

-GK plays ball out to one of the CB's

-Defenders have 2 touches until they lose it

-Once they receive it, they try to go to pug goals. If they score play restarts with new players

-If defense wins ball they go to goal and two CB's delay the attack while defender "A" drops in to make it equal numbers

-Rotate players every stopage

Emphasis:

-Lead attackers away from goal with approach

-2 CB's shape in order to best contain attack and stop shot

-Speed of transition to defensive shape

-Defensive communication in order to organize

Progression

-A fourth attacker comes in once blue team wins the ball to make it 4v3

6v6 to Counter Keepers (20 mins)

-6V6+GK's

-2x8' with 2' Rest

-Regular restarts. No corners-possession team gets ball from GK

Emphasis:

-Quick defensive transition (sprint to get behind the ball)

-Communication (I'm pushing him right, cover this side, etc.)

-Target GK's play as soon as they can to blue

-Don't need to win the ball, just prevent shot and delay attack for recovery

Progression:

-Add neutral player that only plays for blue when they attack and doesn't play with yellow (create numbers up situation when blue attacks to further challenge defense)