Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending - Breaking Lines

FAW Coach Ed

John Mardon

Profile Summary

Name:	John Mardon
City:	Cardiff
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Coaching defending breaking lines.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): General Session

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General Session (15 mins)

Key Factors

General session, out of possession. Focus on coaching Blue players to defend against the Reds trying to break lines with the pass.

Organisation

30mx30m pitch organisation with a 3m wide zone coned across the width of the pitch in the centre between two zones.Start as a 6 (red) v 3 (blue) game. The three Reds in Zone A must remain in this half, while the three Reds in Zone B must remain in this half. The Blues must keep one player in central zone and two players press the ball in half where reds have the ball. The player in the central zone rotates after each time the ball is switched between zones.Add additional Blue player and allow them to have either 3 players in the defending half or two players in the central zone (to create an overall 6 v 4). Then allow Reds to switch any one player between the two Zones (A & B) in order to create overloads in for the attacking team.

Conditions / challenges / targets

Reds score one point for each switch. Blues score two points for any switch prevented when they win the ball back and an additional point if they can then make three passes between them.Start with free play and allow Reds as many touches of the ball as possible between each switch. When pattern of play is established, each Red player in the Zone must touch the ball at least once before the switch is allowed.Add condition that Reds score two points for a switch through the middle of the pitch (coach to determine whether it has gone through the middle rather than cone a zone).When either team reaches ten points switch three Blues with three Reds.

Key technical / tactical information

the three defending players to work as a unit to close the gaps and to prevent the attacking teams breaking lines. Player in central zone to move laterally to close gap to prevent switch.Player in central zone to lead communication with other two players as the player best able to see the gaps and to direct play.Priority to close down central area and to force the Reds to move the ball into the wider areas. Decision making by players when to press and when to force ball wide.Provide depth to defence through the player in central zone.Reds to be encouraged to move ball quickly to provide pace to game and realism.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Small sided game

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Small sided game (15 mins)

Key Factors

Small sided game, coaching the Blues on defending the central areas to prevent the Reds breaking lines.

Organisation

Keep 25m x 30m structure from general session but create two end zones (3m in width).5 v 5 inside the pitch with two common platers on each long edge. Rotate common players with appropriate player from on pitchAim for both teams to pass or run / dribble into the opposite end zone.After each score, the Reds start with the ball at their end of the pitch. This will give opportunity for repeated challenge to the Blues in defending situation.

Challenges / conditions / targets

Red team score two points for getting the ball into the end zone. Blues score 1 point for winning the ball back and 1 point for scoring in the end zone.add condition that attacking team scores a point for successfully passing to common player on the outside. This will encourage width and create different challenge for defending team.
Key technical / tactical points
When out of possession Blues to take a diamond formation (1-2-1) and one player to sit deep in the defending end Zone. The player furthest forward to act as first press / screen, the two midfielders to close gaps and work as a pair, and defender to prevent ball into striker and to lead the communication of the defensive movement of players in front.Blues to keep gaps closed and to force away from the centre.Reds to be encouraged to play the ball quickly and to be creative in movement to provide challenge to defending team. To add challenge to defending team with movement across the pitch, Red team to be challenged to play into at least one common player before scoring.

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