| Name: | Graham Rennie |
|---|---|
| City: | Morristown |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Membership: | Adult Member |
| Sport: | Football/Soccer |
Session based on defending from the front in a 4-2-3-1
Main Coaching Points
Role of 9 - bend pressing run on central defender to half the pitch
Role of 7 or 11 - stay narrow cutting off pass into 10, edge across as ball moves across the pitch, press fullback cutting off pass inside to midfielders
Role of 10 - pick up deepest midfielder & go press central defender if opposition switch via goalkeeper (9 to move into 10s role
Role of 6 and 8 - move across into strong side of pitch and look for opportunities to 'double press' ie. back up wide player pressing full back.(when playing against a midfield 4) / defend 'ball side' when playing against a central midfield 3.

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Organisation
Goalkeeper starts with a goalkick. White team defenders spilt and play continues. Whites try to score in either mini goal and blues try to win the ball back and score in the big goal. Rotate players in every second attack.
Variation
Coach plays ball into the keeper and play continues.
Coaching Points (on next slide)

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Coaching Point
- Number 9 bends run to cut off option to play to opposite central defender
- Number 11 edges across on first pass (cutting off pass into mini goal) and when central defender opens up to play pass they press the right back, bending run to cut off option inside. (11 to offer pass then press aggressively)
- Numbers 10 and 7 move across to condense play into right side of the pitch. Ten picks up the deep midfielder and 7 moves across to cover. 9 responsible for assisting 11 with pressure and ensuring centre half doesn't get back on the ball.

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Coaching Point
- if central defenders manage to get ball back to keeper and back out to opposite central defender then number 10 must arc run to press defender on the ball and number 9 drops back into the 10s role.
- consolidate previous coaching points

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Organisation
Blues line up 1-4-2, whites line up with 2-3-1. Blues try to find two blue target players, whites try to win the ball back and score.
Variatio
Coach plays ball in goalkeepers arms and play develops.
Progression
Add in extra blue midfielder
Coaching Points
- consolidation of coaching points from previous activity
- secondary movement of white players to be in space to receive the ball when possession won back

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Coaching Point
- Centre forward forces central defender to play pass to full back. Wide right blocks forward pass then presses with body angled to stop ball inside. Number 10 picks up deepest midfielder enabling 6 becoming able to 'double press' fullback. Number 8 gets around second central midfielder and covers central area (screening strikers).
- Stress that 'double pressing option only valid when playing against a midfield 4 and only if 10 drops back in to pick up deepest midfielder.
After progression (extra midfielder added)
- 8 unable to 'double press' as another midfielder to be picked up. Whites to force play into fullback and wide player to press blocking any passes inside. Whites all push across into strong side of the pitch. Explain to players that fullbacks would be up tight againt wide midfielder.

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Organisation
9v9 - teams line up 1-3-2-3 formations.
Coaching Points
Any situations relevant to main coaching points of the session.
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4v4s (15 mins)
Organisation
Two groups playing 4v4 on 20 x 30 yd pitches with a mini goal at each end as shown. 4 minute games x 3.
Progression
Two touch maximum
Coaching Points
- high pressure on the ball
- bend pressing runs to force players into wide areas