Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending Principles - Defensive Third.

Technical Development 1

Organization:

- Set up as shown.

- The players are divided into two or three groups if up to18 players, each group is then divided into three teams i.e reds, whites and blues.

Instructions:

- Central zone example: Two attacking teams i.e. Blues and Whites are placed at each end of the grid while the Reds starts in the middle as the defending team.

- Blues starts with the ball passing back and forth with each player taking two touches and trying to stay in possession for a minimum of of 2-3 seconds before passing back to the team mate. This will allow the defending team (Reds) to work on their movements and simple basics of pressure and cover.

- Once the attacking team in possession makes 4 passes, they quickly pass the ball to the other attacking team (Whites) at the other end of the area.

- When the Whites receives the ball, they will also look to make 4 passes before looking to play back to to the blues.

- The defending team (Reds) look to turn around quickly to work on pressure and cover once again. They apply immediate pressure on the ball to immitate pressure and cover tactics.

- Once a total of 8 passes has completed by both attacking teams four each, the defending team now replaces one of the attacking team (Whites).

- The exercise is then repeated with the ball starting with the Reds as the attacking team while the Whites are now the defending team. The rotation continues.

Coaching Points/Questions:

1. Speed of approach.

2. Angle of approach.

3. Move as ball travels.

4. Slow down on arrival.

5. Body position nice and low with knees slightly bent.

6. Communication i.e. "I Go, I cover, force inside, force outside etc."

Team Development

Organization:

1. Set up playing area as shown.

2. Three counter goals.

3. Cones to represent offside line / restraining line.

Instructions:

1. Reds set up in a 1-4-2-1 formation while Blues set up in 2-4-2 formation.

2. Defending team (Reds) look to defend big goal and and score in the counter goals.

3. Attacking team (Blues) look to score on large goal.

4. Ball always restarts from the server to the Blue team unless otherwise specified by coach.

5. Coach also adds variations into the starting point to present new challenges to the defending team.

Coaching Points (Defending Team):

1. Pressure, cover, balance, delay and compactness i.e. horizontally and vertically.

2. Move as a unit to maintain shape.

3. When/where to press vs. retreat/delay.

4. Communication - early, urgent, concise.

5. Show inside/outside - visual cues.

6. Attacking transitions i.e. fast attacks and counter attacks.

Coaching Points (Attacking Team):

1. Spread out i.e. provide width and depth when in possession.

2. Utilize space and triangulate to create passing options.

3. Create a point of attack and then quickly look to switch the point of attack.

4. Speed of play i.e. move the ball quickly to unbalance the defending team.

Progression:

1. Exercise progresses to free play (8v8).