Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defensive Transition

Screen 1

Teams start in exaggerated positions of a 4-3-3 the defensive team (Pink) starts really clumped together in the box, in their positions but no wider than the 6 yard box, and no higher than the edge of the 18 yard box. Attackers (Green) are spread all over the pitch, with the wingers 'touching paint' and the rest of the team in an obvious set up of a 4-3-3. You can use cones or the flat disks to set out where your attackers and defenders should start, and you should try and have them come back to their starting positions whenever the ball goes dead (Maybe allow for a quick throw in occasionally). The game should start with you playing the ball in to an attacker, but no one goes live until that attacker takes her first touch. As soon as she touches the ball, the defensive team should rush out to contain her, but they should also concentrate on getting into their defensive shape. Defenders are trying to win the ball and score in the poles at halfway, attackers are trying to score in the big goals. Attackers aren't the focus, but they should be encouraged to move the ball quickly and take advantage of the space created by the defenders being out of shape. 

Important to encourage defenders to get to the ball quickly, even if that sacrifices one or two players being out of shape. The rest of the defensive team should cover the player who's gone to the ball. Players should be heading towards their area of the pitch to defend though, as in, the left winger should be moving to help mark the opposing right winger or full back. The idea is that we deny the opponents the ability to move the ball first, and then we get our defensive shape right second, and then we win the ball 3rd.

Change the teams over after about 15-20 minutes, depending on how well they're taking it.

This is for 20 players, if you have 22, add in keepers, easy fix. If you have more than 22, rotate players through every time the ball goes dead and you reset. If you have less than 20, start removing players in this order:

Defender's striker

Attackers CB

Defenders winger (Maybe play with 1 striker and no wingers if you get to this point)

Attackers Striker

I can't see you having less than 16, if you do, I don't see this session working, and you're better off just doing attack v defence with a bit more emphasis on defence.