Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Pressure, Cover, Balance

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James Lambourne

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James Lambourne
Name: James Lambourne
City: Windsor
Country: Canada
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 5v3 rondo + transition

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 5v3 rondo + transition
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5v3 rondo + transition

5v3 Rondo + transition

12x12 grid. 3 blues defending, 5 reds keeping possession. 90secs in the middle then switch blues.

Red try and keep possession and play through the grid when possible. Blue try to stop them and win it back. If red do win the ball back they keep possession in the grid, whoever gave the ball away from red comes in to make it a 3v2 to try to win back possession and play back to red on the outside.

Coaching points: Coaching blue on how to defend this and win the ball whilst not allowing central penetration. Work on immediate pressure (move as ball moves) on the player receiving the ball to take away options. Work on 2nd bleu shutting off primary pass for player in possession and third blue closing off/screening passing lane. Transitional element, counter coach the red player who gives possession away to immediately react to try and win it back.

Progression: Make the exercise directional ie the reds are trying to get the ball from north to south rather than just keep possession. This helps coach blue on the concept of forcing the ball backwards through good positioning and angles of pressure more relevant to a game. 


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Passing Lanes (defensive)

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Passing Lanes (defensive)
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Passing Lanes (defensive)

dimensions 10/10/10 by 15yds wide

8 reds, 4 blues defending. 2mins of defending then switch blues.

Objective is for blue to prevent red from playing penetrating passes from one grid into the other. Nobody is allowed to leave their area. Reds may pass the ball as many times in their area as they like to create an angle to play through.

Blue must use the concepts of Pressure, cover and balance to achieve this. Shifting and screening are also relevant in this exercise.

Coaching points: When the red player closest to you has the ball you must be the one to step and apply pressure. The two blues beside you drop and tuck in to screen passing lanes and the 4th blue tucks in to provide balance and to force red to switch the angle of attack before they can penetrate. When red changes the angle by passing to a teammate in the same grid work on how blue shift and reorganize, concepts of dropping in diagonally, not working in straight lines. Reading the play to get immediate pressure on the ball to cut off the most space. 

Progression: Allow one blue to step into reds area and try to win the ball back. Coach how this changes things, does the blue chace the ball in that area? Does he drop and someone else steps as the ball moves. Can Blue use that player to take options away and condense the field.


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 6v6 def vs att

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 6v6 def vs att
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6v6 def vs att

Positional play: Defending with a back 4 and a double pivot in front vs 2-3-1 of attacking team.

Restarts with red playing in from half every time.

Red go to goal, blue try to score in any of the 3 pug nets when they win the ball back within 3 passes (introduction to counterattacking principle in line with game model) this serves to ensure that red have to counter press (react fast in transition) and that blue spend more time on the defending topic.

Coaching points: Coach blue pressure on the ball, coach taking away ball carriers primary options whilst maintaining cover and support. Coach maintaining balance especially when the ball moves from one side of the field to the other and the defense shifts, or when a defender has to step out of the backline to win the ball. Stay goalside at all times. 


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