Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): final third out of possession

Set-Up

Specific Practice #9 - Final Third Out of Possession 

Mode: Drill

Welsh Way Principle:

Defending the final third out of possession.

Organisation

Full width of 11 a side pitch. 1 Full size goal with 2 mini goals on halfway line. 

Outside the width of 18 yard box coned off to split pitch into 3. 

Red's - 9 players defending the full size goal (players in a GK-4-2-1-1 formation). Red striker is situated on the halfway line as a server for blues and target for reds in possession. (Game format would be a GK-4-2-3-1 formation).

Blue's - 8 players attacking the full size goal (players in a 2-3-3 formation) (Game format would be a GK-4-3-3 formation). All players free to go anywhere other than Cb's who remain in central zone.

Instructions

Working with the reds out of possession on how they stop blue's creating goal scoring opportunites in the final third.

Blue's will be in possession of the football as they look to create chances on goal by playing through, around or over the reds in the final third. While the blues are in possession, the red's will have to defend the goal, by reducing the blue's playing through them in the central areas and therefore forcing play wide and away from goal. If red's regain possession they will look to play their way forward into the number 9 for two goals or one of the mini goals for one goal with the realism of counter attack (time limit if required). 

How

Red striker will start by playing a football into one of blue CB’s in which the drill will go live.  

Coaching Point

Width & Depth of both teams (starting positions depending on location of ball). Give red back 4 reference cone to be in line with and all centrally when drill begins (compact). Include GK also.

Interventions

Concurrent

Terminal

Walkthrough

Coaching Process

Screen 3

Coaching Point

If blue CB ends up switching play into other CB, would be too much of a physical task for red advanced midfielder to get across and engage therefore RCM can step out and engage CB (showing him down the line) while advanced midfielder drops into the 2 man screen (defending goal side, ball side).

All players shuffle across as a unit into their reference points to compact the pitch and leave furthest player away (least danger).

Managing opposition - upon switch of play from CB to CB, play ball forward early into winger.

Screen 5

Coaching Point

If ball is played backwards, into blue CM or CB. Red's must squeeze the pitch and get back into a compact shape within the central zone in position to press depending on next action with blues.

If at any time during screen 2-5 a blue CM receives ball, red's aim is to be tight and force play backwards or out wide to regain shape.

If ball gets into blue striker feet, one CB should be tight with other dropped off a couple of yards. 1 CM should be turning and pressing aggresively from the front.