Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): FCU DA Defensive Set Pieces

Defensive set-piece (15 mins)

Defensive Free kicks.

1)*When whistle is blown for a foul, player closest to the ball gets in front of it to make sure opposing team doesn't play quickly. To avoid getting a yellow card slowly walk backwards once you get in front of it.

2) The Back Four (#2,4,5 & 3) players are zonal, who get "side on" and anticpate the ball over the top when it is about to be played with the crossover run.

* if we are playing a back 3, then it's the back 3 + Holding mid.

3) We want to leave the front 3 (7, 9 & 11) to help with counter attack and keeping their defenders back. *if the opposing team doesn't leave 3 or 4 players back, then we will call either the 7 and/or 11 back to be with the two center mids in front of the back Four.

4) the 6 & 8 also anticipate the long ball by getting side on and dropping back in the space in front of the back four. If 7 & 11 are with them, they will do the same.

Back Four Positioning:

The back line are roughly 3-4 yards apart. The outside back closest to the ball sets up 2 yards inside the post so that back line can cover the far post.

Triple A

Alert: Stay alert and ready

Anticipate: Read the play before it happens, can you sense danger early, proactive in communication, players need to drop w/ crossover run so they can see the ball but also run back if it goes over the head.

Attitude: Aggressive mentality, "we are getting this ball out", "no one is beating me to this ball", No one lets down until ball is cleared.

Defensive Corners & Set Pieces (15 mins)

Defensive Corner: Zonal Marking

Set-up:

If we play with a Back 4.

- Outside backs (#2 & 3) on the inside of post on the goal line but facing the field.

- Two center backs and holding mid (#4, 5, 6) are zonal across the six yard box. Covering the near and far post zonal players are one yard inside the post.

- The two other Center mids (8 & 10). One lines up in the near post area and the other just inside the Penalty spot area.

- #7, 9, & 11 stay high and wide.

If we player with a Back 3.

- Outside mids / Wing Backs are on the inside of post on the goal line but facing the field.

- Back three are zonal across the six yard box. Covering the near and far post zonal players are one yard inside the post.

****What happends if they send two short on the corner flag? The player in the near post area (#8) and the Near post player #2 goes out to defend it.

*What happends if the other team doesn't leave 3 or 4 players. Drop one or two of the three forwards (7 & 11) next to the #10.

Triple A

Alert: Stay alert and ready

Anticipate: Read the play before it happens, can you sense danger early, proactive in communication, players need to drop w/ crossover run so they can see the ball but also run back if it goes over the head.

Attitude: Aggressive mentality, "we are getting this ball out", "no one is beating me to this ball", No one lets down until ball is cleared.

Counter Attack on Defensive Set-Pieces (15 mins)

Counter Attack on Defensive Set-Pieces.

Run into Open Space & Immediate Support.

One of the forwards have to anticipate clearance or pass from our defense (They cannot get beat to the ball from opposing defenders). Once ball is played out to them, they need immediate support from the #8 & #10. The other forwards are running into space that has been vacated.

Find Open Space and Go!!

If the counter attack is not on, then make good decisions and keep possession.

What if we only have one or two forwards up there?

The same principles apply if we only have one or two forwards up there. Can the forward anticipate the where the ball is going to be cleared to and can they make sure they keep it. Do we have immediate support underneath? And are we running into the open spaces?

What about defensive Free Kicks?

Same principles apply