Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending; 1v1 2v2 Pressing and Unit Work (Start Time: 2014-10-20 19:30:00)

Warm up (20 mins)

Session Organisation

20 x 40 play area. 2 x 3 yd goals placed at defeders end. Coach plays ball into stiker, game goes live, striker can score by running the ball through either goal. Defender can score by winning the ball and running the ball over the strikers start line.

Progress 2 v 1; 2 v 2,

Four Corners

Technical

Improve defensive skills, Body shape, Coordination of pressing to engage & spoiling.

Tactical

Improve defensive principles. Quick change of defending to attacking attitude transition.

Physical

Improve re-action time and strength on the ball

Psychological

Set yourself personal objectives and stay focused

Social

Communicate and encourage your team mates

SSGams;Screening and Team Unit Work (30 mins)

Session Organisation

Full pitch, restricted in length with appropriate size goal at one end & 4 small goals across pitch, as illustrated.

21 players (incl. GK), arranged 11v10 in teams structured 4-3-3 (counter-attacking team) & 4-4-2 (team attacking 4 goals), as shown.

Practice starts with: GK rolls ball-out to Attacking team. A’s look to build-up play & score in any of the 4 goals.D’s are looking to gain possession & quickly counter-attack to single

goal with GK.After conclusion of an attack: practice restarts from GK. Roles of teams can be reversed after a defined period of play or number of restarts.

Detail

D’s work ethic getting back behind ball to defend. D’s to defend realistically at all times, tracking runs & challenging. Quick reaction to adjust position & depth of defensive line in relation

to ball movement.Engaging player on ball swiftly to delay & deny forward passing.

Sliding across as a unit, remaining compact & leaving furthest attacker away from ball.

Ensure a quick tempo in passing & movement from team in possession.

Encourage creative & clever play in advanced areas. Emphasis on individual techniques & precise execution of passing, receiving dribbling & running with the ball skills. Simple progressions for this practice are: Replace 4 goals with one & GK, to develop full game.

Teams to develop own counter-attacking style in 4-4-2

Four Corners

Technical

Coordination of pressing & spoiling effort from D’s.

Engage player on ball (if possible) on recovery run.

Early recognition of supporting strikers to ‘show’ for ball on regains of possession.

Quick reaction to movement of players to initiate counter-attack.

Tactical

Quick change of defending to attacking attitude from players(& vice versa).

Physical

Looking for timely runs & well-placed passes to quickly penetrate

opposition on counter-attack.

Psychological

Concentration & assessment of build-up play in advanced positions

to receive break-out passes from MF & counter-attack areas of pitch.

Social

Communicate and encourage your team mates