Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Session 14: Defending the lines

Description

Topic: Defending in a mid-block

Number of players: 15 outfielders + 1 GK

Timings: 2 minute walkthrough, block 1: 6 minutes, 1 minute rest, block 2: 6 minutes, LSG: 10 minutes

Set-up: OOP team is in 4-1-4-1 without the wide midfielders and the CF. IP team is in a 4-2-3-1 with the one CB and the FB's taken out. When the OOP team wins the ball, they try to score on the minigoals on the half-way line. IP team tries to score on the main goal while trying as much as possible to play through the 10s.

Intervention strategy:

- Walkthrough to explain the shape and role responsibilities in the set-up for OOP team. Assistant talks to IP team and emphasises the intention to play through the 10.

- Concurrent feedback to keep intensity high and clarify OOP triggers

-If OOP is struggling to defend their lines, freeze and walkthrough solution.

- Bullseye instructions to certain players is inevitable in a complex tactical exercise

- Between the two blocks and during the 1 minute rest, OOP team goes with head coach, IP team goes with assistant. Team talks revolve around feedback, tactical instructions for specific roles and unit behaviour.

- During LSG, we try to keep ball-rolling time as high as possible, so keep interventions at a minimum, look to coach concurrently as if a real match. Freeze only in situations where we feel is very necessary. We keep same one-team-each set-up for two coaches.

Elite game evidence:

"In a mid-block, defending players must constantly think about protecting the central channel as a priority to prevent the opposition from advancing towards goal."

FIFA Training Centre (2022)

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