Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Mid Block Set up - Craig Shead

Tactical Situation game (mid block) (25 mins)

Practice Objectives:

To screen the oppostion playing into midfield in a 9 v 11 practice 

Objective is to force play to wide areas and then lock in the press

Key Objectives:

- The attacking team in possession try to play through the opposing defence into their 7, 10 and 11 – who are positioned in a middle zone – with 3 touches maximum. 

- Once the ball is played into the attacking 7, 10 or 11, then its 4 v 4 and we must try force a mistake and block any shots ! 

- Before passing into the 7, 9 or 11, the attacking team must have entered the three zones of the CBs for practice of our movement to screen play
- The pass into the attacking 7, 9 or 11 must be below knee-height.

- After a goal, block, save or out-of-bounds, a new ball will begin with the attacking team. If the defending team recovers the ball in the first zone, then they try to score in one of the three small goals behind the attacking team.

- The first zone is marked with three vertical zones, the target for the defending team is to shift across as a compact unit to ensure their block of 6 players are positioned across only two of the three vertical zones at any given time. The challenge for the attacking players in the first zone is to provide maximum width and depth. 

Coaching Points:

- Two forwards and four midfielders shift across the field to deny space between players.

- They should engage in collective pressing as the ball travels into the side lanes (Grey Area) 

- It will be important for all players to shift across at similar running pace to maintain close distances in the defending block. 

- As the ball travels from centre-back to full-back/Wing back, the forward on the ball-side must quickly drop to deny the pass into supporting midfielders. 

• If the team in possession can successfully rotate the ball from one side to the other, the block must sprint diagonally backwards to deny space and reorganise shape.

POSITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES vs 352 playing out
• TO BE COMPLETED

POSITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES vs 4231 playing out
• Forwards are responsible for pressing centre-backs and protecting space in front of the midfield line.
• Wingers are responsible for pressing full-backs diagonally to deny option of straight pass down the touchline to the 7 or 11, and staying connected to their central midfielders on the weak side.
• Central midfielders are responsible for providing coverage to their wingers as they press the full-backs, denying passing lines into 9 and 10, and stepping to defend the opposing central midfielder on the ball-side.
• Centre-backs should communicate with the block of six in front of them, helping them to identify appropriate marks and positioning to protect space.
• Centre-backs should also force their opponent wide in the 3v2 situation.