Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending in mid block

3v3 Wave Game (15 mins)

Acitivity

A directional themed game played on a pitch split into thirds.
Requires three players from both teams at any one time. 
Coaches (C) will serve to one of the goalkeepers to begin the practice.
This goalkeeper is then allowed one free pass into an attacking teammate in the middle third.
Once the ball has progressed into the middle third, the possession team is not allowed to play back into their
defensive third.
Attacking team – Team A should attempt to progress into the final third and score past the opposing goalkeeper to score one point.
If the defending team (Team B) manages to steal the ball back in the middle third, counter-attack into the final third and score = 3pts

Progessions- If you feel that the pace of the practice needs to increase, introduce a condition whereby each attack should only take a maximum of 10 seconds.
When a phase has finished, either by a team scoring or the ball going out of the play, a new set of three players
from each team should enter the pitch. One of the coaches then plays into the other goalkeeper to start the next phase, so both teams get a chance to attack and defend during the practice

Coaching Points
OUT OF POSSESSION
RECOGNISING PRESSING CHANCES -players must be encouraged to see opportunities to press the possession team in the middle third. The practice is designed to encourage the defending team to win the ball within an area from which they can counter-attack.
1v1 DEFENDING - There should be lots of opportunity for 1v1 defending if players are able to get up to the ball. While attempting
to show outside, coach defenders to be side-on, take short steps and wait for opportunities to nick the ball.
Encourage cover and balance behind the pressing player, which could lead to interception opportunities.
RECOVERY RUNS - During moments of defensive transition, there will be opportunity for players to practice making recovery
runs to get back behind the ball. All recovery runs to be sprints.
IN POSSESSION
FORWARD MOVEMENT -  Forwards runs beyond a defender can create opportunities for through balls. These runs can also
act as decoy runs that drag defenders away from their shape to create other goalscoring chances.
FIRST PASS FORWARD - Encourage the players to pay attention to the detail of their passing – passes should be smooth and played with the correct weight and accuracy. Always look to play forwards 1st, then Sideways 2nd, then Backwards 3rd.
To encourage quick attacking play, attention should be drawn towards playing the first pass forward.
1v1 ATTACKING- This is a practice that should lend itself to plenty of 1v1 attacking duels. Encourage players on the ball to
attempt to isolate defenders in 1v1s and look to beat them on the dribble.
FINISHING- Finishing should be crisp and clinical. Encourage as many shots on target as possible

11v11 (25 mins)

Activity

A normal 11v11 match, in which both teams can attack and defend how they want, and can score from anywhere.

The pitch is split into thirds.

How to Score- Both teams can score bonus points if they score goals that in some way relate to the theme of defending in a mid-block to counter.
In Possession -Any normal goal scored from open play = 1pt.
Any goal scored after a team has won possession and counter-attacked is = 2pts.
Any goal scored after a team has won possession in the middle third and then played into the attacking third = 3pts
The main objective is for the players to understand how they are going to score more goals and how they might
apply their own tactics to do so