Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): UEFA B April - Midfielders Defending In Own Half (Mid-Block) 18 Players

Warmup - Reading Opposition Body Shape and Screening Passing Lanes (15 mins)

Method:

• Warmup designed to introduce reading an oppositions passing body shape and look to react to screen passing lanes/intercept play.
• Ball begins with player between mini-goals, who passes to play on top of grid. The player at the top of the grid has 2 touches to pass into the mini goals. The player who passed them the ball attempts to intercept the ball by closing distance and anticipating where the ball will go.
• Players swap sides after each turn.

Coaching Points:

• Anticipating touch - Defending player should anticipate how opponents touch will affect their positioning - Close down poor touch, get in set position on good touch.
• Reading body shape - The defender should look to read how the body shape of the player is affecting what side they will pass to. Anticipate should/hip position, as well as foot positioning when approaching ball.
• Quick reactions - Players should anticipate reacting quickly, quick horizontal movements to read passing decision and close distance.

• Make competitive - players get knocked out if scored on.
• Increase difficulty to first time pass, quicker decision to be make to intercept ball.
• Can add mini goal on far side of grid for transition to attack. 

9V9 Phase - Midfielders Defending In Own Half (Mid-Block) (20 mins)

Method:

9v9 Phase of play - Blue team defend in mid-block shape in their own half, if they win ball back look to quickly transition and score on red goal.

Red Formation - 1-2-3-3

Blue Formation - 1-4-3-1

Red team replicate mid-block, sacrifice opposition on ball to maintain team shape and look to win ball by inviting opposition onto them. Not too deep so that opposition cannot be comfortable in possession deep in defensive half.

Coaching Points:

• Distances Between Midfielders - Midfield defend in 2-1 shape, remain compact to screen passing lane into striker. If opposition 6/8 drops into space to receive, maintain shape and apply pressure if they receive ball - rest of unit shifts to cover and balance. If opposition midfielder plays on blindside/shoulder, pass should be screened by closest midfielder.
• Ball entering wide area - If ball goes to opposition winger, FB looks to apply pressure and nearside CB covers space behind. Nearest DM should support fullback from inside, preventing pass to striker and encouraging opposition to pass backwards. AM also cut off recycle of possession from high and make difficult to switch play.
• Opposition Underlap - If opposition winger has ball and opposition midfielder completes underlap between FB/CB, the DM should pass runner to the near CB and cover central area. Other DM and AM should drop to cover central area as well, to ensure play cannot progress centrally.
• Pressure on Opposition Body Shape - If opposition midfielders receive ball facing backwards, chance to apply pressure from nearest midfielder. Midfield steps to force opposition midfielders to receive in deeper area. Backline also step higher to close pitch and give increased chance in winning possession.