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Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 6 of 16- Defending The Final Third (Start Time: 2025-11-05 11:40:00)

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FAW Coach Ed

Emile Therrien

Profile Summary

Emile Therrien
Name: Emile Therrien
City: St. Johns, FL
Country: United States of America
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Description

Organization (Practice Layout & Transition)

Problem - We had trouble on the weekend with a very smart #9 and #10, they made runs off the ball movements that we just couldn't defend.  

Practice Setup:  Blue Team focus.

 8v8 

Blue Team - 1-5-2, #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 7 (working back from 1-4-3-3, removed 9, 10, 8)

Red Team - 3-2-2, #2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 11, 7, 9 (Working back from 1-4-3-3, removed 1, 4, 5)

Practice Design:

20 minutes Total (use time wisely with terminal breaks)

 (use half pitch + final third bias) with a clear defensive third zone marked.

Blue team, Focus team in defense.  When winning the ball finish in wide area mini goals.

red team, attack, work on runs in behind #9 

Coaching Points: 

  • Body shape: Side-on stance angled slightly towards touchline to see both ball and #9.

  • Distance: Maintain 10 yards between backs, slide and adjust to maintain consistent distances.

  • Timing of step/drop: First defender steps only when Cover exists; otherwise, Delay forward movement.

  • Communication: Constant verbal cues (“Step”, “Hold”, “Slide”).

  • 1v1 defending wide: Delay and jockey; don’t dive in, show outside.

  • Scanning: Constant head checks to track #9 and 10 movements and identify pockets of space.

Transition:  

2 min Water break and Terminal to cover all coaching points again.

8v8 (remove red #2, add Red GK)

20-minute SSG: Defending the Final Third

Pressing triggers

  • Opponent heavy touch facing own goal → immediate press by nearest CM/CB.

  • Backpass to attacker on the edge of the box → trigger narrow squeeze.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defending The Final Third

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defending The Final Third
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Defending The Final Third (5 mins)

Final Third Defending (20 Mins)

8v8

Red Start with balls from #2 or 3, use combination play to possess the ball and find gaps.  Score into the large goal, trying to play to the #9.  

Blue defending in a low compact shape.  Opposite wing adds to defensive line, making 5.  Scan to track the 9 and 10 runs in behind. 

Challenges, Conditions and Targets:

Targets - to large goal for red.  Mini goals for Blue.  Blue deny passes into the 9 and counter straight away.  

Challenges- Defensive unit to stay compact as a unit in the final third, use the two central midfielders to fill half-space gaps and man-mark the two #9 and 10, force play wide.

Aggressive GK to come off his line to cover the back line, sweeper keeper.

Conditions - Reb objective is to get the ball to the 9 to score.  

Adaptations (Progressions and Regressions:)

Progressions - Add an attacker and push the 2, 3 higher into the attack. 

Play 2 touch max Red team, to increase the intensity and speed of attack.  

Regressions - Take away a red player.

Can always slow the practice down to a walk through if no successful defending.  

Problem 1: Opposition #9 stretches CBs (occupies/dragging centre-backs), which opens channels for the two CM to break between lines or receive penetrating passes.

Solution 1:

  • 5 defenders maintain narrow, one-unit line; the 2 CMs tuck in to occupy half-spaces and block vertical lanes.

  • GK role: take a proactive line — be ready to step forward to “block” space behind the centre-backs if the #9 tries a run in behind; communicate constantly (“step/hold/cover”).

    • Solution 2 - 

  • Assign the two center backs to closely track the two CMs (man-mark/zone hybrid) with help from the 6,  to prevent them from receiving behind the defensive line.

  • Force wide & deny centre: defenders and midfielders shift as a block toward the ball to force play into the central channel.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): SSG Defending the Final Third

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): SSG Defending the Final Third
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SSG Defending the Final Third (5 mins)

 SSG 8v8

Use of pressing triggers.  

Challenge the Red to really be creative in their attack.  Can they new ways of opening the defense?

This will allow the Defense in thier decision making process.  Can they figure out real time how to solve the problem.   

What does success look like:

Blue Team scan and find the 9 to prevent >70% of central passes.

 GK successful at denying runs behind.

Players demonstrate correct “step & cover”, effective communication and actions. 

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