Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defensive Shape Session - 30/8/21 (Start Time: 2021-08-30 18:00:00)

Basic Concepts (5 mins)

Introduction

Explain a few basic concepts that highlight the key areas we need to understand in order to defend effectively

What is Defending and How Many Players Do it?

The number one aim of defending is to stop the opposition scoring

- if you asked the question of the team and they said To win the ball back etc. explain that tackling/winning the ball is only a means of stopping them scoring. 

The prime aim is not to concede a goal

If we play 4-2-3-1, how many defenders do we have when the opposition have the ball?

- the answer, of course, is 10 or 11. It is everyone's responsibility to stop the opposition scoring

POMO

a) The red box immediately in front of the goal represents POMO - Position of Maximum Opportunity

Basically, if an attacker finds themselves in that area with even only a modicum of space, they are expected to score

(As an aside, most goals in this area are scored first time hence, we play some training games with the condition One Touch Finish)

It follows therefore we need to be most vigilant about keeping the ball and our opponents away from this area

Corridor of Uncertainty

b) The white shaded area is the so-called Corridor of Uncertainty

The name arises from the fact that, when an attacker gets around the back of our defence and crosses (especially a low cross) into that area, there can be uncertainty whether the outfield defender or the goalkeeper should deal with it.

This uncertainty (and hence hesitation) - however fleeting - creates an opportunity for the attacker

Defending the near-post area of this corridor and clear communication from the keeper is essential

Defend 3/5 of the PItch

c) The red lines, which create 5 vertical zones are a visual cue for our defensive organisation

It is clear that Zones 2,3 & 4 are the key areas to defend when the ball is played centrally.

However, if the opposition have two very wide wingers based on each touch line, the temptation is for defenders to mark them (i.e. occupy Zones 1 & 5) even when the ball is central.

This is a mistake as it creates gaps in the central areas.  The defence must learn to take the positioning cues from the location of the ball and shuffle left and right (as appropriate) when the ball is moving.

At any one time, the best the defence can hope for (until reinforcements arrive) is to defend 3/5 (ie 60%) of the pitch

Goal Side/Ball Side

When man-marking an opponent it is essential to be goal-side i.e. between the opponent and our goal

You should also aim to have a clear view of the ball (ball side)

An ideal position is therefore goal side, ball side

Phase of Play- Back Four & Screens (10 mins)

Introduction

We now structure the practice to better reflect our actual playing shape which is ostensibly 4-2-3-1

However, we allow one of the Defensive midfileds to join the attack, so more often we will resemble 4-1-4-1 so we have to practice defending in this shape and using DELAY to give time for our midfield to recover

Drill

Requires:

7 Defenders + GK

6 Attackers

3 Target players (in black) or can use mini goals



We now have two extra attackers (making a total of 5) faced by our back 4 and the one defensive screen

The principle is still the same; ATTACK but this time we can use the screen player to help the back four fulfil these roles.  On occasions, he will be the one attacking the ball, on others he will drop into the channels to provide cover & balance

Rather than demonstrate this in shadow play, we can go straight into a Phase of Play exercise where:

Blues are attacking the big goal and start from the centre circle

As soon as the ball is touched by a second blue player, the red attacking midfielders can retreat to support the defence

Offside is in play.

No corners

Scoring

Blues score in the large goals as usual

Reds score 0.25 of a goal by passing to one of the black players (or mini goals if used)