Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): mid block defending 442

Description

Session Organisation:

• Teams: 4-4-2 (Red) vs 4-4-2 (Blue)

• Duration: 3 x 7-minute blocks

• Intervals: 2 minutes between blocks for tactical reset and interventions

• Pitch Size: Full width, tailored length to reflect game realism and transitional distances

• Restart Point: Blue GK plays into either centre-back to begin

• Constraint: If the Red team wins possession, they must attempt to score within 10 seconds (to simulate attacking transition)

Session Objectives:

• Coach the defending team (Red) to use pitch geography, distances, and reference points to manage various types of build-up.

• Guide decision-making from players closest to the ball, then supporting players, and finally those furthest away.

• Use positional cues and team shape to:

  • Control central areas (through)

  • Deny wide overloads (around)

  • Protect depth (over)

• Build awareness of both defensive-to-attacking and attacking-to-defensive transitions.

Defensive Focus – Structure & Detail:

???? Positional Detail:

• Use clear reference points: halfway line, central channel, inside/outside of the penalty area.

• Manage vertical distances between units (e.g., back four and midfield four).

• Emphasize horizontal compactness between players off the ball.

Block Breakdown (Blue Team Build-Up Focus):

Block 1 – Playing Through:

• Blues encouraged to break lines via central midfield and support runs.

• Reds must control vertical distances, screen passes into the striker and midfield 10s.

• Coaching focus: Compactness, line of engagement, midfield unit control.

Block 2 – Playing Around:

• Blues look to access wide areas, full-backs advance aggressively.

• Reds must prevent overloads in wide channels and control crosses.

• Coaching focus: Shifting as a unit, wide midfielder-FB relationships, trapping near the sideline.

Block 3 – Playing Over:

• Blues attempt to bypass structure with direct passes into strikers or wide runners.

• Reds must manage depth, track runners, and win first and second balls.

• Coaching focus: CB positioning, rest defence, distances between lines.

Coach Interventions:

• “Where’s the space — through, around, or over? How do we deal with it?”

• “Who’s responsible for locking the middle when the ball goes wide?”

• “Can we delay to allow teammates to recover and re-shape?”

• “After we win it — what’s our immediate intention?”

Player Learning Outcomes:

• Recognise and adapt to different types of build-up threats.

• Understand their role within a zonal 4-4-2 defensive shape using reference points and spatial control.

• Execute transitions with clarity: when to counter, when to secure, and how to delay.