Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Protect the middle

Close the space

Objectives 

• To encourage midfield pairs to work together to protect the middle and in turn, defend the lines
• To encourage the closest player to the ball to challenge when out of possession
• To challenge the individual +1 to follow up and support the nearest midfielder to the ball

Timings

• 3 games of 3 minutes or first to score 5 wins, whichever comes first
• Rotate blue players clockwise and red players anti-clockwise to mix up midfield pairs

Conditions 

• Pitch split into thirds to provide a visual reference for the midfields to protect the middle of the pitch
• All players given an opportunity to play as a midfield pairing through rotation between the thirds

Principles of play out of possession (to defend the lines)

• Fast pressure on the ball
• Win the ball back from the in possession team
• Close the space quickly 
• Time the challenge
• Read the pass

Targets

•  1 point is awarded for every breakdown in possession by the opposition team

• Midfield pairs to be challenged in-game to close the space and time challenges
• Remind +1s to follow up and either challenge together or follow-up if the opposition breaks through

• Players from other thirds allowed to moved between areas to improve realism if necessary