Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending overloads

Specific Practice (10 mins)

Organisation:

-Half pitch.

-15 players; 7 blue (attackers), 6 yellow (defenders) plus 'keeper = outfield numerical mismatch/overload opportunity.

-2 large goals (1 for the Specific Practice only, 1 ready for SSG), 2 small goals for Specific Practice only.

- Red cones mark out of bounds area as defenders not using wingers.  Creates more intensity in areas of the pitch relevant to overload focus.

-Blue discs used to outline attacking creation zone for central assists.

-Yellow team will be set up 4, 2, 1; a traditional back 4, 2 x CDM/screening midfielders.

-Blues will have an attacking 4 supported by 2 attacking midfielders (AM) and 1 deep lying playmaker (DLP).

Explanation - Creating the problem: 

-Blues aim to score in main goal = 1 point (then restart cycle) if assist from wide.

-If blues score from assist made in blue creation zone = 2 points (then restart Cycle).  This encourages attack to test defence's compactness & commitment to protecting central areas.

-The cycle always starts with the blue DLP at the orange cone playing into an AM, who aims to split defence or play wide.  The other AM looks for 2 v 1 opportunities to create the overload.

-Blue wide players remain wide to offer option of quick switch of play, creating additional problems for defence.

-Blues will be asked to be unpredictable, mixing up between going wide left, wide right, through the middle, switching play.

-No shooting from outside area.

-No corners/goalkicks - Cycle restarts.

Explanation - Coaching the solutions: 

-Yellow team must prevent the Blues from scoring and defend against the overloads centrally and wide. Back 4 defenders and keeper are to screen across with support from the 2 CDMs if and when ball plays wide and remembering to leave the furthest man to help defend the overload.

-Defence will be coached to work and move in unison/tuck in, so they cannot be split.  Maintaining distance between each other and moving left/right/centre together.  Emphasise need to scan/check and communicate with one another.

-Force attack wide, use CDMs to support and press.  Nearest player presses the ball.

-Right and left backs will be given guidance not to move more inwards than their nearest post when so not to leave too much space out wide.

-Screening CDMs will be coached to own a left and right side and provide a screen between FB and Defence, with aim to press the ball at source and prevent.

-Managing crosses - Defensive line and body positioning to clear ball to safer wide areas.

-If yellows win possession, they have 4 touches / 7 seconds to score in the mini goals (to replicate aggressive counter attacking) - 2 points (then restart cycle).

Challenges/progression Blue Team:

-2 points if assist comes from the blue creation zone.

-Blues have 15 seconds to finish from start of Cycle.

Challenge/progression Yellow Team: 

-Quick counter attack when winning possession (realism), score in mini goals earns 2 points.

Key Points:

Out Of Possession - Coaching The Defenders:

-Narrow and compact, protecting the central areas

-Work as a unit, moving in sync and maintaining compactness to prevent being split

-Movement and pressing at pace, forcing the opponent wide or back and around.

-Anticipate opponent's movement, communicating to teammates to make aware and work to resolve collectively.

-Leave the furthest man

In Possession - Managing The Attackers:

-Switch play

-Forward passes to exploit space

-Create 2v1s

-Rotations

Interventions:

-1 min intro/demo.

-Estimate 2 terminal feedback opportunities per 5 min bloc

SSG (10 mins)

Preparation - does the time for this count as part of our 10 minutes?

DOES THIS PITCH NEED TO BE BIGGER FOR 9V9?

• Coaches remove the mini goals, blue creation zone cones and red cones to mark the touch line.  These were required only for the Specific Practice.  Large goal brought forward to halfway mark - 1 min
• Add extra players and brief both teams on the objective/demo and the change in conditions being set out - 1 min

• Assistant coach will focus on managing the attack to focus on the ways to create problems for the defence.
• This will be a 9v9 session but the formations set up so that the attack still has a numerical advantage over the defence.  Both teams will need two extra players each adding to the team used for the Specific Practice.  Extra blue players goes in 2 man defence and the DLP from the Specific Session goes in goal. Extra yellow players take up an AM and CF position.
• Half pitch utilised (BIG ENOUGH?).
• Blue team (attack) working backwards from 11v11 formation of GK-4-4-2 will be missing two full backs.
• Yellow team (defence) working backwards from 11v11 formation of GK-4-2-3-1 will be missing two wingers.
• Plan for this session to be demanding and intense, especially for a back 3 and therefore 
• Balls kept next to each goal, so time isn't lost when goals are scored or ball goes behind.  Balls by coaches too if ball goes out of play.
• Red cones marking out of bounds area still used, as defenders not using wingers. Creates more intensity in areas of the pitch relevant to overload focus.
• No shooting from outside area.
• No corners/goalkicks (loses time and doesn't support the principles being coached) - Cycle restarts.
• Offside rule applies.
• Blues have unrestricted movement on the pitch to encourage creative freedom and risk taking.
• Yellows must stick rigidly to positions and defence must not move further up the pitch than halfway when a counter attack is on.

Explanation:

• Objective/measure of success is that the defensive team don't concede a goal, or as few as possible.
• Game situation with reduced pitch and formations to give one team an attacking numerical advantage and thus give a defensive focus to the SSG.
• Ball starts with attacking team goalkeeper.  If attacking team scores then the defending team keeper starts play.
• Ensure defence understand that defending doesn't necessarily mean tackling - it means stopping the opponent scoring, therefore shape, pressing and forcing mistakes are just as important.
• If yellow team concede a goal created from a central area and not a winger they lose a point/goal.  

Challenge/progression Yellow Team:

-Score from different position each time e.g. wide left, then central then wide right.

Challenge/progression Yellow Team:

-Lose a goal (and go into minus if need be) if concede goal through central areas.

-Force attackers to lose possession within 20 seconds.

Key Points:

Out Of Possession - Coaching The Defenders:

-Narrow and compact, protecting the central areas.

-Work as a unit, moving in sync and maintaining compactness to prevent being split.

-Movement and pressing at pace, forcing the opponent wide or back and around.

-Anticipate opponent's movement, communicating to teammates to make aware and work to resolve collectively.

-Leave the furthest man.

In Possession - Managing The Attackers:

-Switch play.

-Forward passes to exploit space.

-Create 2v1s.

-Rotations.

Interventions:

-1 min intro/demo.

-Estimate 2 terminal feedback opportunities per 5 min block.

-Concurrent feedback will also be provided where appropriate.