Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Defending principles 11 v 11

Screen 2

1/2 pitch practice

Defending central.

Blue team defend play live when ball is played in by 2 Yellow feeders.

Blue 8

Presses as ball travels.

Get there on first touch or before if possible.

Body angle showing Yellow dictating which way/direction you want play to go.

Set traps/overloads if possible more opportunities to win the ball back.

STOP pass into strikers

Blue 4

As 8 releases to press, trigger to support/get up.

Communicating with 8(information-stand up/show outside)

Lock on opposition.

STOP ball being played into strikers.

Blue 5 & 6

Very similar roles.

As 4 presses dictate back 4 position/push up.

Lock onto strikers/correct body position/inside,outside shoulder.

Communicate with both full backs.

Keep spaces/gaps between you and full backs small/narrow, pass goes outside & not through/between you.

Blue 2 & 3

Again similar roles.

Press as unit.

Press with pace/agressive.

Communicate with centre half.

Show outside/body angle.

Force player back.

Blue Goalkeeper.

Communication across the line.

Body position in 18 yard area.

Be ready for possible shot/cross scenarios.

Blue 7

Play outside shoulder of yellow centre midfielder and inside shoulder of ywllow wide men.

Stop/block pass into more advanced wide man.

Force pass into wide area close space/suffocate opposition, win ball, make him pass.

Blue 9

Show one side, dont let ball switch. Set trap/Trigger for Blue team.

Force pass/press the ball if possible.

Blue 10

Create overload 3v2 central area. More opportunity to win back possession.

Support front man, as defender travels with ball make him pass, block central pass, show wide.

Blue 11

Support Blue 3 in defending.

Stop/press switch to right sided yellow players.

Show outside to attacking yellow team.

Be aware of triggers.

Communicate.

Be ready to counter attack

Screen 4

1/2 pitch practice

Defending Inbehind/Over the top.

All about recovery runs.

Recover straight lines.

Are we set up as a unit.

Can we read the pass, win the first ball and stop the attack.

Narrow up to one side of the pitch.

Be compact, numbers in correct areas.

Play safe, re-group, get into shape,defend goal side.

Blue 8

Press ball stop pass being made.

Recover straight line protect middle 3rd.

Lock onto pressing Yellow player.

Communicate give information to units.

Blue 4

React to long ball.

Be 1st to react to second ball/defending header/forward pass.

Can we start counter attack.

Communicate give information.

Lock onto pressing midfielder.

Blue 3

Get there 1st if not recover run, stop playcross going forward/to goal.

Communicate give information.

Narrow up to centre half 6, show outside.

Blue 6

Recover run/narrow gap to 3.

Lock onto striker/goal side.

Stop cross/shot from striker.

Defend goal side.

Slow play down, help team mates recover into position.

Defend the ball/play safe/play forward if posibble.

Blue 5

Recover run/narrow gap to 6.

Lock onto striker/goal side.

Stop cross into striker/stop shot from striker.

Defend goal side.

Defend the ball/play safe/play forward if posibble.

Comminate across the back unit also the unit infront.

Blue 2

Full back tucks in far side, covering far post cross/far post area.

Also communicating across the line keeping the unit solid.

Use back post as guide/position.

Ready for counter attack/play travel into space.

Blue GK

Body position.

Communication with back 4.

Ready for cross/shot.

Ready to play forward.

Blue 7

Play outside shoulder of yellow centre midfielder and inside shoulder of yellow wide men.

Stop/block pass into more advanced wide man.

Force pass into wide area close space/suffocate opposition, win ball, make him pass.

Blue 9

Show one side, dont let ball switch. Set trap/Trigger for Blue team.

Force pass/press the ball if possible.

Blue 10

Create overload 3v2 central area. More opportunity to win back possession.

Support front man, as defender travels with ball make him pass, block forward/central pass.

Blue 11

Support Blue 3 in defending.

Stop/press switch to right sided yellow players.

Show outside to attacking yellow team.

Narrow up to midfield unit/show outside pass NOT through/break lines.

Be aware of triggers.

Communicate.

Be ready to counter attack