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Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 3rd Defender (Balance)

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RBNY Academy Inc

Enzo Bertolotti

Profile Summary

Enzo Bertolotti
Name: Enzo Bertolotti
City: New York City
Country: United States of America
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Description

Learning Outcomes:  

Building Blocks - Group Tactics

What: Improve the role of the defenders away from the ball, to provide balance and track the opponent runners or to move into the covering or pressing roles quickly if necessary.

Who: Primary - Defenders and midfielders

Where: Defensive 3rd in front of the 18 yards box

When: Out of possession and the opponent is organizing a structured attack

Why: Need to improve defenders ability to shift across and apply quick pressure when the opponent switches the point of attack

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Introduction

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Introduction
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Introduction (10 mins)

Organization:

  • 4x6-yard rectangle
  • 4v2 in each square
  • 3 teams of 2 (teams game)
  • Extra balls outside.
  • 45-seconds intervals (x5 or more)

Instructions:

  • Split- the pair in the middle is a point
  • Successful meg is a point
  • 7 passes in a row- is a point
  • Defense team will score a point when steal the ball and dribble out of square 

Coaching Points/Questions:

  • Timing of movement for pressure and cover
  • Angle and body shape
  • Communication 

Regressions/Progressions:

  • R1: Attackers play one touch
  • P1: Defender need to win the ball and dribble outside the box for a point
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Main activity

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Main activity
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Main activity (30 mins)

Organization:

  • 4 teams of 3 players
  • 2 6x4y grids or adjust according to size
  • balls
  • 90 seconds rounds

Instructions:

  • 3v3
  • Game starts when one of the players passes the ball to his/her teammate (first pass free) from the starting point
  • Attacking team will get a point by dribbling to the end line
  • Defender will try to win the ball for a point and can counter attack to the line for 2 points

Coaching Points/Questions:

  • Can you keep the group compact? how
  • Anticipate the play (what the player on the ball want to do)
  • Quickly change roles (who is the closest defender) who should put pressure, who should cover and balance?
  • Communication
  • Travel With the ball, be proactive

Regressions:

  • R1: Add gates for attacker to dribble through for a point.
  • R2: Attackers can't pass forward
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Progression 1

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Progression 1
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Progression 1 (30 mins)

Progressions:

  • Attackers can score on small net
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Progression 2

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Progression 2
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Progression 2 (30 mins)

Progressions:

  • If Defender conceded a goal while they are in both halves of the field will be counted as 2 (Example red field )
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Conditioned Game

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Conditioned Game
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Conditioned Game (20 mins)

Organization:

  • 2 teams of 4 on the field+ one team of four neutrals 
  • G.K with big goal
  • 3 Server players
  • Balls
  • 2-minute round
  • Offside is ON

Instructions:

  • Game starts when server passes the ball to one of the attackers
  • Attackers score on the big goal for a point
  • Defender will score a point for stopping the attack or not conceding a goal
  • Defenders can get 3 point if they find any of the servers within 6 seconds
  • Restart always when the ball is out. Each player should be on his/her starting position 

Coaching Points/Questions:

  • Role of 1st, 2nd, 3rd Defenders (pressure, cover, balance)
  • Reading the cues, when to press, when to delay
  • Quick switch in between roles as the ball moving
  • Communication
  • Travel with the ball be proactive
  • Create depth in our defensive line, Do not drop off!
  • Shape the attacker away from goal

Regressions/Progressions:

  • P1: Defenders playing numbers down
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Match

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Match
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Match (30 mins)

Organization:

  • 3 vs 3 or 4 vs 4

Instructions:

  • Fifa laws
  • POP

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per year
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