Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): BPO - Defending the box (U12 - U16)

6 v 6 Position-Specific Game

Session Organisation:

FUNCTION:

This is a conditioned game with two teams of six players, plus one goalkeeper. The pitch has areas zoned off as shown in the diagrams by the shaded areas. No players are allowed to enter these zoned areas of the pitch, so that no attacking players drop into false wide positions. 

• If the attacking team (Team A Blue) switch the ball from their deepest player to the wide player with one pass, the wide player who receives the pass then plays a wall pass with Team B’s (Red) full-back, as shown in diagram one. This is to allow balls to be played into the box.

•Should the defending team steal possession they attempt to score in the three mini goals at the opposite end of the pitch. If they score they then start with the ball as the attacking team.

DEVELOPING THE PRACTICE:

•Diagram two shows a variation: if the winger receives a switch of play in a deeper position, a bounce pass is played to encourage a cross from a different angle 

BLOCKING THE LINE OF THE CROSS:

• The full-backs in this practice are encouraged to stop crosses by blocking the line of the cross. Full-backs should position themselves to prevent crosses being played into the space behind the two centre-backs.

BODY SHAPE 

• Central players should be encouraged to defend with an open body position when the ball is out wide, with the aim of being able to see both the man and ball when crossing situations occur. 

CLEARANCES 

• When a player is clearing the ball they should use a low risk technique. They should aim to clear the ball away from the box and out of the ‘danger zone’. 

• Defenders should be encouraged to move their feet to avoid over stretching and possibly diverting the ball into their own goal or back into a dangerous area.

ANTICIPATION 

• Underpinning all of the defenders’ actions is a high level of anticipation. Players should attempt to read ‘triggers’ and ‘cues’ as to where the opponent will pass next. They should aim to stay one step ahead of the player in possession to win the ball back through tackles, interceptions or making a clearance.

PROTECT THE MIDDLE 

• Protecting the middle of the pitch is essential when defending the box. The defending unit need to develop an understanding of distances between themselves in order to prevent ‘split’ passes breaking the defensive line. While remaining ‘compact’ is crucial, the defensive unit needs to understand when they become too ‘compact’, as that can make it easy for opponents to play around them and get shots off. 

BOX DEFENDING 

• Positioning when defending the box is hugely important. The centre-back nearest the ball should defend the ‘near post space’, the next centre-back should cover the middle of goal and the opposite fullback should defend the back post. The midfielders should look to intercept cut-backs.

Training Game

Session Organisation:

Normal 11 v 11 game, standard rules apply