Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): 6- Specific-SSG - Defending the Final Third

FAW Coach Ed

Senol Nacar

Profile Summary

Name:	Senol Nacar
City:	Neath
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Organisation

Participants: Specific = 15 / SSG = 18

In the specific practice, set up 8v7 with the out of possession team having a goalkeeper.

In the SSG, there will be a 9v9.

Area Size

The area is half-pitch, tapered from 10 yards to the edge of the centre circle and half-way line.

Cones will be set up alongside the width of the tapered pitch, to support starting positions for each team. Utilise pitch geography, (D of 18 for defensive line, Width of 18yrd for defensive unit.)

Mini-goals will be set for out of possession team to attack and score within 6 seconds. Normal goals setup ready to go for SSG.

Coached Red Team: Out of possession team (1-4-5-1, playing as a 1-4-3-0 without wingers and striker for specific practice / with a striker for SSG)

Managed Blue Team: In possession team (1-4-4-2, playing as a 0-1-4-2, with only 1 CB from the back 4 / with 1 CB and a GK joining for the SSG).

Create width, try and force them to be wide to create gaps to break lines. 10 to start as a centre forward, (Width and depth / combination play / final pass / quality of finish).

Each wide player will reset on higher cones than the other CM's.

Framing

Bibs set up in starting positions as shown in diagram. Players are divided (by a game), and told instructions before freezing in position with bib. All players included in set up before removing Blue GK, Blue 5 and Red 9 for specific practice.

RED TEAM: Q&A about starting position: Start narrow, within the 18yd box. The deeper centre midfielders screen the central defenders.

Highest CM block direct route to goal. Each line of defence will line up alongside the cone. Last line of defence have a high line - First Pass to start walk through

Restarts

Each phase of play will begin with the Blue 8 turning to get a ball from the goal, and the red 10 beginning to force the direction one way with a press on either CM. Players must be in shape before restart.

Timings

Specific Practice: 1 x 3 min block, 1 x 5 min block, with Intervention.

SSG: 2 x 4 min block, with Concurrent Feedback.

Objectives

Welsh Way Principles - Understand when and how to minimise space, deal with crosses / shots & protect space centrally in the defensive third.

Key Session Coaching Points:

Protect the Middle, Force Wide, Minimise Box Entries, Stop Crosses, Defend the Box

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Specific

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Specific (10 mins)

Specific walk-through defending the central areas, followed by two live plays down each wing.

Ball out of play - Reset Shape (Players stay in set positions unless challenged)

Adaptations

Progressions - Time limit for when they dispossess the opposite team / score within 5 seconds.

Create problems - In the final 3mins. 10 drops off the front line between 4 and 8.

Communication to pass the 10 to Red 8 to pick up.

Red 10 to support with either blue 6 or blue 8 driving from midfield.

Regressions - Time limit for blues in the final third.

Blues have to play wide to make a shooting opportunity.

Challenges

1) Can we force the opposition one way to make it predictable, can we continue to protect the central area blocking passing lanes to the striker [Play]

2) Can we force the opposition wide and double up to force them backwards, while blocking passing lanes to striker [Play]

3) Can we overload the strikers in the box to and leave the furthest player, move as a unit up the pitch with each backwards pass to reduce the space.

Conditions

1) Defensive unit will start 20 yards from goals, this is where I want them to start and coach them through where I feel they need to be depending on the ball.

2) Play is always restarted from the blue goal.

Targets

Blues: To get wide and cross the ball where the opportunities presents itself/ or look to switch play.

Red: To defend as a unit, to stop split passes, shots and crosses, and to force play backwards. Also, if they can break out and score in either the 3 goals, utilising the keeper in the play.

Coaching Points

Out of possession - Protect the middle / force wide / stop-defend the cross / body on the line

On the ball: Pressure - do not commit but do not allow time, stop passing option and force one direction, delay to encourage team-mate support / Around the Ball: stop passing lanes, force one way - double up with pressure on the ball as soon as possible/ Away from the ball: narrow and compact, leave furthest player.

Coaching the What if's

What are our triggers? When do we press and movement of the defensive unit.

Distances, pressure on the ball, starting position.

Move as a unit forward when the ball is played backwards by attacking team.

If the ball is on the wing, the unit shuffles over to reduce space - leave the other winger.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): SSG

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SSG (10 mins)

9v9 - Stop Play - Move off small goals - Players added back in

Blue Team: GK, and 1 CB

Red Team: Striker to be added as first line of defence.

Progressions - Red to have a time limit to dispossess or remove pressure in the final third (10 seconds).

Regressions - Yellows can only score a header or volley in the box.

Challenges - Reds to now be more of a defensive unit in a game scenario. Can they still now defend the final 3rd but higher up the pitch and get their rewards to go and play. Have the confidence to look to counter attack.

Conditions - Pitch is played in the final 3rd but restrict the angle on one end of the pitch to encourage the ball to go more direct in the wide areas.

Restarts - With goalkeeper for in possession team (i.e. if it goes out for a set piece, then the team in possession starts from the goalkeeper).

Targets: Both teams to score but the Reds to minimise the Yellows chances and can they counter at pace.

Coaching Points

Out of possession - Protect the middle / force wide / stop-defend the cross / body on the line

On the ball: Pressure / Around the Ball: stop passing lanes, force one way / Away from the ball: narrow and compact, leave furthest player, force backwards, 9 players behind the ball.

Final Challenge:

Last 4 minutes of the game, reset score so that the Reds are winning 1-0.

Reds now have to defend the lead in which increased pressure and focus on defending the final third with realistic game pressure. .

The Blues have 4 minutes to score and take it to extra time or score 2 to win the game.

Problem: What do the reds want from their number 9? Stay high, or defend deep. Does the midfield want to press out wide areas.

1) Reset on pitch geography / body positions.

2) Concurrent feedback to individuals (roles and responsibilities) and units (not too deep).