Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Defending Outnumbered (Start Time: 2017-07-17 19:00:00)

Warm Up - SAQ's (5 mins)

Players to complete each zone twice, 30 seconds rest and then repeat.

Zone 1

Feet together, jumping with high knees over each small hurdle. 2 seconds rest after each jump. Come back over the larger hurdles with no rest in between.

Move on to the next zone...

Zone 2

Forward sprints, down to touch each cone in order, returning to the start cone every time. Second sequence is the same but backwards.

Move to the next zone...

Zone 3

Stand by a cone, sprint for 30 seconds on the spot, 10 seconds rest and then 30 seconds on the spot sprint.

Move to the next zone...

Zone 4

Walk along the ladder with high knees being careful not to touch the runs. Second ladder, run as fast as possible with high knees being careful not to touch the runs.

Move to the next zone...

Function (15 mins)

Organisation

x1 large goal.

x10 balls.

Bibs.

Cones - to create 2 lines to highlight the functional play area.

Split players into 2 teams of 6 players - blue attackers and yellow defenders - plus a goalkeeper; 2 players from each team will work in pairs on a rotational basis;

Blue Attackers start from the edge of the coned area. 1 defender starts in front of the ball and another defender will start behind the ball.

Objective

Defender number 1 passes out to one of the two attackers to start the game. Defender 1 then seeks to delay the attack & wait for defender 2 to make recovery run (defender number 2 cannot make a recover run until the first attacker has controlled the ball). Attackers briefed to attack & get shot on target as soon as possible. Defenders are tasked to deny scoring opportnity or force attackers outside coned area. If defenders obtain possession, they must seek to pass the ball to a yellow player waiting outside the coned area as quickly as possible - turning defence into attack.

Defenders must work as a team with the first defender closest to the player in possession pressing, and the second defender tucking in but positioned so as to provide cover against the other blue attacking player.

Progressions

1. Allow Blue attackers only 10 seconds to score in order to maintain quick rotation.

2. Increasse width of coned area to the edge of the penalty area and introduce defenders to begin with and 3 attackers, with the third defender joining as above.

Principles of play: Press, Delay, Cover & Balance, Compactness, Control & Restraint.