Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending In Low Block with T2A

Defending Possession Drill

Method: 20 minutes possession based game based around defending principles. Small box in the middle with a 4v2 if the 2 win the ball back they pass the ball to the players in the bigger square and it becomes a 10 v 4. Change players accordingly.

Coaching Points:

When to press

Communication

Pressing with Intensity

Cover

Body Shape

Force them inside

Stay close and compact

Phase Of Play

Method: Defending In a Low Block Transition To Attack for 20 minutes

Phase Of Play - 8 v 6 outfield players with GK also.

Phase Of Play 20 minutes - Attack v Defence with an Overload

The blue team will consist of 2 full backs, 3 midfielders and 3 attackers.

The red team will consist of a GK, 4 defenders and 2 midfielders.

The ball will start on the half way line with the 2 blue midfielders. They will then attack the red team and try and score. If the red team wins the ball back they can score in any of the 3 goals on the half way line

Areas Of Focus

Staying compact and force the ball out wide

Everybody shifts across when the ball is switched making sure the furthest player is left free and that they are protecting the middle area.

Body Shape is open so they can see behind them

Pressing with high intensity and not letting them get shots off or crosses in

Pass runners on if possible

Communication with eachother

Maintaining a close distance between back 4 and midfield 2

Midfielder shift across to double up with full back on overload

T2A, can we score in the goals.

11v11 game

Method: 11 v 11 game. Coaching defending in a low block with transition to attack.

Coaching red team in a 1-4-4-1-1 formation against the blue team on 1-4-1-2-3 formation

Coaching Points:

Starting Positions - Striker drops to the half way line. Midfielders and Defenders drop in own half with a distance of roughly 20/25metres between the striker and defenders.

Pressing - Allow the opposition to have the ball. The pressing trigger will be when the opposition reach the edge of the semi circle in their half or 5 yards inside the half way line. The striker will press the cb on the ball, if the ball goes to the full back the winger on that side will press while showing the fb inside and everybody else will shift across filling the gaps leaving the furthest player free. It is vitally important there isn't a forward pass into the strikers feet or attacking midfielder. Force them back or force the long ball. The aim is to frustrate them and force this issue. When we do decide to press it must be done with high intensity and same with covering. If its lazy and they break the line then we are in trouble.

Communication - When defending, this is a must. The GK can see the hole pitch so hemust be giving information to his defenders. Defenders talking to the midfielders and wingers in front of them and midfielders to strikers

Defending In Own Half - Everybody must be in our own half once the opposition do get higher up. The striker drops on the defensive midfielder. If the ball is with one of their wingers our full back presses, winger drops, midfielders shift across and again the furthers full back is left free. If the ball is switched across the team must shift as a unit and again the same principles apply.

T2A - Although we are defending in a low block its important we can transition to attack when we win the ball back. Players must be comfortable on the ball and not just kick it away. Use of the goalkeeper is important and we have to spread out and make the pitch big. The first pass must find one of our players, if we can play forward then preferably it should be into the strikers feet. From an organisation point and to help us transition quicker I want the winger on the opposite side of the ball to be slightly higher than the midfielder next to him when we are defending. This will allow him get to the striker and support him quicker. Our attacking midfielder must also support from behind and offer an outlet for our striker to set the ball. Good retention of the football is important to allow us get up the pitch. Winning free kicks and things like that will also help.