Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending from the front

Arrival Scrimmage (10 mins)

Set up:

Two small sided games. Players are selected in random teams on their arrival.

Organization:

We run two seperate games due to topic being about individual dribbling.

Coaching Points:

None but coach should use this time to watch and observe individuals strengths and weakness's.

Skill Development (10 mins)

Set up:

Functional Practice

Organization:

Two teams. 4v4. White start with the ball and they start in the above positions. After the intial pass white team can move anywhere. White aim to score in the 2 goals at the bottom and yellow aim to win the ball and counter to the top goals. If Yellow are able to prevent white from scoring they change to become the attackers for the next game. If White scores they stay as the attackers.

Progression: Make the game a competition, keep score and highlight the winners.

Coaching Points:

(From left)

#11 - If player goes down left this players pressures the ball and stops forward penetration. If it goes back to the #5 they pinch back into the center.

#10 - Is responsbile for stepping and covering for #11 and stopping forward penetration though the center of the field.

#7 - Establishes balance looking to cover for #10 but also hovering and looking to intercept any squares passes and is ready to counter.

#6 - Offers coverage.

Phase of Play (20 mins)

Set up:

Phase of Play

Organization:

Two teams. White has 4 players and a keeper. Yellow has 5 players. Red players are only used when Yellow win possession and can only attack when the ball is on their side of the field.

Coaching Points:

(From left)

#9 - Makes play predictable by cutting off any passes square. This will force the player to either go back to keep or go down the left side of the field (making play predictable).

#11 - If player goes down left this players pressures the ball and stops forward penetration. If it goes back to the keeper they pinch back into the center.

#10 - Is responsbile for stepping and covering for #11 and stopping forward penetration though the center of the field.

#7 - Establishes balance looking to cover for #10 but also hovering and looking to intercept any squares passes and is ready to counter.

#6 - Offers coverage.