Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): defending switch with mdf 3

Screen 1

Function Practise

midfield 3 defending a switch against a midfield 4

aims: To force the team in possession to play backwards by engaging players on and around the ball.

To stop team in possession playing through to the red 10 to score. attempt to force them into a long pass or 50/50 pass which may be intercepted by full backs or wingers when in a full game or SSG.

Set up: Function to take place in centre of the pitch to create realism of situation on match day. Not full with to keep within function rule. only players directly invloved to be used.

Players needed: read team- mdf 4 (7,4,8,11) server who acts as #10 once ball is in play. cb's (6,5)

blue team-mdf 3 (10,4,8).

rules: red 10 plays a pass to the red cb's to begin play, then must stay inside red box marked with cones

cb's play ball into midfield and the ball must be moved from one wide player (7 or 11) to the opposite touchline (switch in play) once completed the ball can be played into the #10 to score a goal.

only the red 7 or 11 may pass into the #10.

Blue team- must stay behind half way line until ball is with red midfield then they may engage players. ball being passed from cb's is the trigger for mdf 3 to play.

Blue team to stop ball being played through around and over and ultimately stop ball being played into the red #10.

*pitch split into 3 zones for ease of reference within the session.

Screen 3 (10 mins)

Should ball be played to the opposite side into red #11 the same process applies but from the other side with blue #8 engaging player on the ball and showing them the line to set traps. blue #4 shuffles across and is able to engage players around thge ball in zone 2 and blue #10 shuffles across but no futher than centre spot in zone 2.

Blue team should only engage players on and around the ball, player off the ball should be left but kept in eye sight in case of switch (on match day this player could be covered by winger or full back should a switch be completed)

problem 1:

blue team to wait until ball is played from cb's into midfield to engage.

problem 2: blue team use the ball reaching red cb's as trigger to start, once at cb's feet function is live. Blue team can now engage further up the pitch but all the time maintaining the principles set out and using zones as reference points to position themselves on the pitch.