Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Phase of play - Working with the back 4 + 2 MF

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Name:	Younes Bouida
City:	Moncton
Country:	Canada
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Starting Positions

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Starting Positions

Organization: Play 8v6 in 2/3 of the full field with a server.

In working with the back 4 with 2 defensive midfielders, have the intial starting position compact from side to side and front to back. Once the ball is played by the server, the defending 6 will then have to adjust their positions accordingly. Allow them to play some before stepping to coach their positioning. If there is a shot on goal that the GKer holds onto it, then he or she should hit one of the target goals and a new ball will be played from the server to restart. If the ball misses the net or a goal is scored, the server will restart the game with a new ball. Finially, if the defending team wins the ball, they are to try to get the ball in to one of the target goals or to the server.

Key Factors:

1) Stay compact

2) Move as a unit

3) Keep the ball in front

4) Intercept wherever possible

5) Communication

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Ball played wide

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Ball played wide

Organization: As above.

As the ball is played wide, the defending group must adjust to the ball and move as the ball travels. The first defender now has a decision to make: does he or she pressure the ball, or does he or she sit and try to take passing lanes away from the player on the ball. If the ball is pressured, then the rest of the defending team can step up and get even more compact. But if the player closest to the ball sits in passing lanes, then the rest of the defending team must do the same in anticipation of where the next pass will go.

Key Factors:

1) Stay compact

2) Move as a unit

3) Keep the ball in front

4) Intercept passes wherever possible

5) Communication

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): HIgh pressure on the ball played wide

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HIgh pressure on the ball played wide

Organization: As above.

In this case there is good pressue on the ball and the attacker is limited to either dribbling or trying to pass down the line. The defending team has pushed across and up to be very compact leaving the 3 front runners in offside positions as well as being in position to both intercept the ball down the line and cover that same ball played over the top. Notice that the two FBs are in front of the two CBs. It is the CBs job to set the line and to be the last man back. The lines of movement represent what each player could do depending on what the player on the ball chooses to do next.

Key Factors:

1) Stay compact - step up with pressure on the ball

2) Move as a unit

3) Keep the ball in front

4) Win the ball when you can - tackle or intercept wherever possible

5) Communication

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Low pressure on the ball played wide

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Low pressure on the ball played wide

Organization: As above.

In this case there is no real pressure on the ball so the defending team needs to hold positional shape a little more and to sit in or close to possible passing lanes. There is also the very real possibility of a ball hit into the space behind the back line so it is imperative that all four fullbacks and the GKer are ready for and anticipating that ball. Every player at this point has at least two jobs (represented by the lines of movement - which line will depend on what the player on the ball does next).

Key Factors:

1) Stay compact - drop/hold together with lower pressure

2) Move as a unit

3) Keep the ball in front

4) Intercept wherever possible - anticipate where the ball is going

5) Communication

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Ball played backwards

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Ball played backwards

Organization: As above.

If the ball gets played backwards, then everyone on the defensive team needs to immediately step forward and take away the attacking space in front of them while the ball travels. This way the team can stay compact, can keep the gaps between each teammate consistent and does not let the passing lanes grow or suddenly allow the attacking team more time and space than the defending team would want them to have.

Key Factors:

1) Stay compact - don't let the gap to the MFers grow

2) Move as a unit - get up quickly

3) Keep the ball in front

4) Intercept wherever possible - anticipate what will happen next

5) Communication

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