Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Tactical Development - Defending the 18 yard box Specific Practice

FAW Coach Ed

Ken Griffiths

Profile Summary

Name:	Ken Griffiths
City:	totnes
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Organisation (Practice Layout & Transition

Objective: Defending Box when face a 4-2 attacking unit

Coach Task 1

Main Principles

· Protect the middle

· Force attackers wide

· Minimise box entries

· Stop Crosses

· Defend the box

Main Focus of the session

· Stay compact

· Move as a unit

· Speed & angle of approach when pressing

· Effective communication

Coach Task 2

After the keeper the next important unit to effect would bethe defence as they are the ones that are closest to the goal and the unit thatwould be most important to keep their shape when defending, they are also closest to the keeper so will be the easiest ones for the keeper to effect with their communication.

Coach Task 3:

What are the mainconsiderations for any team when defending and attacking based on a context ofthe opposition attacking central and wide areas?

· Defensive Shape – Is it compact enough toprotect the middle of the pitch, do they know their roles in pressing the ball ifthe ball goes wide

· How the defensive moves as a unit

· Protecting the middle of the pitch – Not allowingthe opposition space to pass through the middle of them.

· Pressing the ball who will go to the ball firstand how will the rest of the team react to the player pressing the ball

what are the specific considerations for the Goalkeeper?

· Starting position in relation to the ball

· Communication with the defence

· How the starting position will change if the ballgets switched

· Being on the front foot to affect through balls

Defending considerations –

When the opposition are attacking centrally -

· Staying compact in the middle

· Holding midfielder looking to press the ball

· Full backs tuck in but ready to engage thewinger if the ball goes wide

· Keeper on front foot looking to sweep anythingover the top

When the opposition are attacking wide areas –

· Full back closest to the ball can go and press

· Rest of defence shuffles across

· Can CB’s stay within the line of the posts

· Furthest attacking player from the ball is theleast concern (opposite winger)

· Can the wide midfielder help double up with thefull back to help defend

· Holding midfielder to be ready to pick up 2ndballs around the edge of the box

Attacking considerations – When you are attackingcentrally/When you are attacking wide areas:

· Can you move the ball quickly to stop thedefence getting set

· Can you break lines and use rotations to throw offthe defensive shape

· Can you switch the ball from central to wideareas quickly to create overloads on the full back

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Specific practice - Block 1

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Specific practice - Block 1 (10 mins)

Specific training:

Players: 6+1GK VS 7

Attacking team: 4 -4 - 2 no defenders - wingers play high to create more of a 4-2-4

Defending team (coached) : 1GK, 4 -4 -2 (no wide midfielders or strikers)

Split into 2 half, walkthrough at beginning, intervention in between

Coaching details:

Defending line up on the 18 yd box line, holding midfielder in front of defending line about 6yd. Defenders away from each other no more then 8 yards apart.

Whole defensive unit’s job is to mainly stop the opponent creating chances in central areas, and allowing the winger to have the ball.

Holding midfielder can cover the space between 18 yard box line, and the main job is cut the pass option from midfielder to striker. While the other midfielder can help the full back to press the wide players.

Full backs main job is to stay in line with centre back, when the winger have ball, move close to the winger 5 yd away form the box and hold the position focusing on the speed and angle of approach, mainly to stop the winger bring the ball close to box. The far side full back would need to cover the back post option. If the far side winger has already made their run already into the box then just keep marking him.

Centre backs main job is stop the Striker turning, when they try to receive the ball in front of box, keep track them back if they running behind as well as communicating with the rest of the defence. If the winger receives the ball, then two centre backs need to be marking the strikers when they enter the box.

Key Notes for Keeper (concurrent coaching mainly)starting position in relation to the ball , good communication, recognising threats and working with the defence to eradicate them.

Key point: defence need to stick as a unit, mainly focus on stopping the attack option in front of box and isolating the furthest player.

Challenges:

For red team, can they score inside the box, putting more emphasis on defending team to defend the middle of the pitch.

For blue team: Once they win the ball they have 8 seconds to score in one of the mini goals

Coaching position:

In and around the keeper for concurrent coaching , but never in his eye line.

Targets:

Red team: Score in big goal.

Blue team: Stop Red team scoring , on turnover can they score in mini goals, considering them as two strikers. (they have 8 seconds to do this upon winning the ball back.)

Progressions:

Block 1 – Ball always re sets and starts with server 1 after it goes dead, giving the defensive team 5 seconds to re set their shape and get ready to start again.

Attacking team can they create overloads in wide areas.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Block 2