Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending in the initial 3rd - Transition Central

Defend your goal 2v2

Method: Defend your goal 2v2

Reds defend, blues attack. Red must serve the ball and then defend their main goal, if they win the ball or keeper catches it they play out into the 2 smaller goals.

Coaching Points:

• Closing Down

Up fast - apply pressure quickly, pressure should orientate the attacker to only be able to go one way (away from goal).

Slow down - Defender must slow down and correctly position himself and not be beaten easily by the defender.

Side side - Defender should orientate his body to the same side as the pressured run. Emphasis on body shape to effect opponent.

Get Low - Defender should get low and be ready to reorientate body as required.

• Press/cover - closest player to the player with the ball presses, other player covers. Priority that opposition cannot play the ball in behind, covering player then applies pressure to other player when he receives the ball.

Defend your goal 4v4+2 transition central

Method: Back line defending vs a front 3 + a 10, +2 for both teams when in possession

Reds defend, blues attack, yellows are with whichever team has possession. GK serves the ball to the yellows, then reds defend their main goal. Yellows join blues in attack to simulate opposition 6 & 8 creating overload, yellows join reds when when the ball out to simulate playing into 8/10. Once a pass from reds is made to yellows they go on the attack with blues. Yellows must stay within lines shown to simulate playing out centrally.

Back 4 to start defending width of 18 yard box, will shift left and right preserving tight spaces to prevent through balls, always defend 3 of the 5 channels shown above.

Coaching Points:

Horizontal Positioning - back 4 to concentrate on defending the width of the 18 yard box, when full back must close outside of this, team should shift over and defend 3 channels, emphasis on no through balls into opposition 9.

Transition focus - when possession is turned over defenders can score by passing the ball into the yellow players. Transitions into the yellow players through the red goals within 3 seconds are award 3 goals.