Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Out of Possession - Compact - Defending in a mid block

Warm Up

ORGANISATION:

• Part 1 warm up with hurdle, ladder and agility poles (5 min)
• one touch passing with both feet after the ladder
• after the poles, header
• Part 2 warm up football tennis 2 x 4v4 games

HOW TO PLAY:

• Have fun!
• change up the first touch part 1 warm up i.e. thighs, chest, instep, top of the foot

COACHING POINTS:

• N/A

CHANGE IT / PROGRESSIONS:

Game Training (30 mins)

ORGANISATION:

• 40 x 40 area with 1 big goal and two small goals at opposite ends
• 9 v 7 with the defending team (yellow) in a 1-4-3-1 block
• Attacking (blue) team set up in 1-3-3

HOW TO PLAY:

• Coach plays a ball in to the blue central defender
• Blue team tries to play through the lines and create a goal scoring opportunity
• Yellow team needs to ensure there is even space between the 3 defensive lines and that players can close down the space so the blue team cannot play forward
• Stay compact and communicate to ensure each player knows what they are responsible for

COACHING POINTS:

• • Can you stay close together to through the line to ensure there is not too much space to play in
  • If the attacking (blue) team plays through, can you support by becoming a second defender
  • Can you force the attacking team to play backwards, if you can, move the defensive line up too
  • If the yellow team wins the ball, can they attack the goals on the edge of the area and open up the space

CHANGE IT / PROGRESSIONS:

• Adjust the formation of the attacking (blue) team to a 1-4-2 (diamond midfield) to provide additional challenge