Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): FAW / UEFA B Licence - Defending The Lines (OA1) (Start Time: 2026-03-28 10:00:00)
FAW Coach Ed
Jack Waters
Description
Organisation (Practice Layout & Transition)
Area Size - Half Pitch
Principle - Defend The Lines
Defending Team Objective - To defend the lines, if win the ball look to score in any of the three mini goals
Attacking Team Objective - To break and play between the lines to score
11v11 Formations - Out - 1-3-3-1 (3-5-2) removed RWB, LWB, x1 ST In - 2-2-2-1 (3-4-2-1) removed x1 CB, RWB, LWB
Opposition Management - Display quality on the ball. High energy expected from players. Passing detail key
Timings - x2 4 Min Blocks, 1 Min Frame, 1 Min Rest
Challenge - Defending team to make 10 interceptions
Condition - Pitch tapered at corners. Yellow flats represnt central area, play must take place here. Smaller area marked out by black flats represent lines. E.g red players must operate within these. Guide to help players understand where the lines are and who should play within them
Interventions - Concurrent, Terminal, Walkthrough, Coaching Process
Equipment - Balls, Bibs, Flat Markers, x3 Mini Goals
Counter Coaching - Partner to focus on managing the in possession attacking team looking to break the lines. Encourage passing details to be of high quality, reinforce to players that ball speed is key. Player movements off the ball to help create space and get in good positions to receive. Body shape and receiving on the half-turn is important. Be aware and scan constantly, be patient when in-possession
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
10 mins
Players - x16 8v8Out - GK, x3 CB, x3 CM, ST
In - GK, x2 CB, x2 CM, x2 CAM, ST (Added GK for SSG)
Transition & Frame - 1 mins
Block 1 - P1 & S1 (4 Mins)
Rest - 1 Mins
Block 2 - P2 & S2 (4 Mins)
Debrief - 1 Mins
Interventions - Concurrent, Terminal & Coaching Process
Coaching Points - Reinforce
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10 mins
Players - x15 8v7Out - GK, x3 CB, x3 CM, ST
In - x2 CB, x2 CM, x2 CAM, ST
Problem 1 - Playing Through : Red 9 dropping and acting as a false 9. This creates a 5v3 attacking overload. 10s rotate and look to play in space / gaps. Reds are breaking the midfield line and playing through
Solution 1 - Back 3 move higher and squeeze 9 & two 10's.
Problem 2 - Playing Around: Red CBs and at one 10 are linking together in the wider area of the pitch (edge of yellow grid) 1 Blue CM is following and getting dragged out. 1 Red CM pushes higher and is playing between the lines and in free space. Receive inside the pitch to then play back outside, and attack from the wide areas. Create & exploit space to play around
Solution 2 - ST to recognise when this is happening and move to the edge of the small black flats, blue LB steps higher to 2nd yellow flat, remaining two blue midfielders, shuffle to cover space and make sure space behind is protected and they are in a position to stop split passes being played inside the pitch. Blue ST, CM that has followed and LB now look to use the touchline and lock play.
What If 1 - Reds look to play over into the ST who could drift into a wide channel? FB's read and recognise when it's on and they are going to play it. Time the drop not to early and not to late. MF looks to win 2nd ball. CB look to step and win first contact if ST is central. MF 2nds again
What If 2 - Reds manage to break out and switch play from being locked in. (P2 & S2). Back 3 shuffle back across and stay narrow, ST comes back across to top of right black flat marker. MF also shuffle across, be aware of opposition creating wide overloads to help play around again. Be ready to cover space if eg, MF may have to drop into central defence if CB goes with full-back to stop a 2v1 and match up to 2v2. Or MF goes with full-back to match up St may have to drop to support and cover space
Coaching Points