Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Ball protection

Ball protection

Session Objective: To protect ball/hold ball up

Organisation:

Drill A .Ball served in by 1 to player 2 who must hold and protect for few seconds while opposed by 3.Then play ball back to server who plays ball to far end (4).Player 4 serves to

3 who protects ball while pressed by 2.Repeat several times then rotate players.

Drill B.2v2 in middle,four players outside Ball played in from outside.Players receiving must protect ball before trying to play to other man on outside or link with other team player.

Outside players can play ball to each other to change angle and then play into middle.

Key Factors:

Create space

Body shape to receive (sideon)

Set weight and stance to hold

play and move

Defending through lines (35 mins)

Session Objective:

Defending passing through lines.

Organisation:

Three groups,two red,one blue.Reds (A) have to manoevre ball and try to play through lines to other red group (B).Blues have to close down and limit opportunities,reacting to ball as it is spread along Red group.

Blues react by nearest man closing down,next man comes across to support and cover.Players react as ball is transfered.So if ball with Red 1,Blue 1 closes,Blue 2 shifts across.If ball transferred to Red 3 , Blue 3 closes and so on.Stay in boxes at first then players can move anywhere across theirchannel ( line of boxes).

Key Factors:

Pressure on ball

When, where,who?

Communication

Angles/distance of support

Compact and naqrrow shape

Tracking runners

Decision-making