Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending the Final 3rd - Emergency Defending

Description

UEFA B OA4 - Defending the Final 3rd (Emergency Defending)

Specific Practice - 7v7, Coaching Reds, Managing Blues 

• Reds (Defenders) 1-4-2-3-1 (No 7, 9, 10, 11)
• Blues (Attackers) 1-3-5-2 (No 5, 6, 7)

Session Explanation

• Reds look to defend the final 3rd, defend the box by stopping crosses and being compact the central channel
• Blues look to attack the box by driving or crossing in both central and wide areas.
• Reds have 8 seconds to score once they win possession

Specific Blocks 

Block 1 (4 minutes) - How do we look to defend when the ball is in wide areas? How do we apply pressure, how do we cover and balance off centrally. Blues will receive 2 goals if they score from wide areas

Block 2 (4 minutes) - How do we keep the shape narrow and compact when the ball is in central areas. Blues will gain 2 goals if they can score from centra areas.

SSG Blocks 

Block 1 (4 minutes) - Big focus on decision making both out of possession and in transition when reds in the ball. What do they do with it.

Block 2 (4 minutes) -   Scenario: Reds 1-0 up last 5 minutes of the game. 

Framing

• Board to be used to show how the shape should look when the ball is in both central and wide areas. Walkthrough at the start will also be used as visual support.

Out of Possession (Coached)

• Immediate pressure on wide players
• Central defenders and far side full back side on to see the ball and attackers
• Checking shoulders for movement
• Reducing distances between defenders (Narrow and Compact)
• Compacting pitch on backwards passes
• Goalkeeper encouraged to affect the game by dealing with crosses and communicating to back 4 and midfield 2

In Possession (Managed) 

• High ball speed
• Use of width 
• Forward / diagonal runs in and around the box

Interventions

• Terminal feedback between blocks
• Concurrent feedback delivered throughout the practice
• Walkthrough of shape, what if’s and rest defence