Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Conditioning Defensive Session plan (Start Time: 2017-07-25 18:00:00)

Conditioning Rondo 4v2 (15 mins)

Organisation:

Set up 3 playing areas if squad has 18 players. (10x10) / (7x7) playing area (4v2)

(5v3) can be used for 16man squad

2 minute overload x 4 reps (Overall 24min)

Instructions:

2 defending players inside the 7x7 area attempt to intercept the ball from the 4 outside attacking players. With every 3rd or 4th pass, the outside team must attempt to play a through ball between the defending players through the small 7x7 area.

If the defenders intercept the pass, a new ball is played in by the coach or supporting spare player.

Coaching points:

Defenders close space, positional awareness and work hard for 2 minutes.

Outside players look for supporting angles, moving up and down the lines , through passes

Conditions:

2 touch, below waist height, 4th pass through ball, the ball can not go back to the same player twice.

Back 4 Zonal Positioning (20 mins)

Objective(s)

1. Coach how to shift the defending block.

2. Coach team how to compact the field.

3. Coach defending deep.

Organization

• 1/2 Field (Approx 60x50 yrds) (30-40 mins). Field split into 2 zones

horizon-tally and 2 vertically. 14 Players. (+2GK for Progressions). 1 Full

size goal and 2 smaller gate goals:

• Formations & Set-Up

• 1. 7 players (Red) +GK (4-1-2 Formation). 6 Blue Players (4-2 Formation).

• 2. Balls positoned next to Red teams goal.

• 3. Start Position from the Red GK. Can be varied as desired

Instructions

• Game starts when the Red GK distributes the ball out to the red back 4. They maintain

possession and attempt to score on the two smaller goals on the half way line. The Blue back

4 are not allowed out of the Back 4 Zone. The two blue forwards are free to move where they

choose. The whole Red team is also allowed to move where they desire.

Progressions

• Replace the small gate goals with full size goals and 2 GKs.

• Remove the Double goals and add a single for the SSG.

• Play 2 touch in the defending half.

• Full size game

Variations

• Increase the size of the field to allow players more space and time. The final 8vs8 can be

set-up to go from 18yrd box to 18yrd box. Players can be asked to take mandatory 2 touches

in the early stages of this session to allow the defending team time to slide to protect the

strong side.

Key Coaching Points (KPs)

1. Communication to move as a unit.

2. React to the ball position as the ball moves.

3. Front 2 stay compact.

4. Attacking team should look to switch to challenge

the blocks movement.

5. Look to play deep and tight for the most part.

6. In the final SSG, be aware of off-sides.

7. Stay compact at all times when defending.

Maintaining Spacing

When defending as a block (zonal defending) the spacing must remain

fairly compact. Here we are using a zonal back 4.

Defending Block Slides

It is important that that back 4 travel and move together, especially when

adjusting to balls in wide areas and switches of play.

Notes & Observations

• This exercise forces the team to slide to extreme measures for teaching purposes. The field

can also be split into 3rds to allow less extreme sliding if needed. Defending two gate goals

in the first part of the practice forces good active defending!