Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Defensive Block Zone 4/3, Centrally, Using the FWs and CMs (D2)

Warm up - Neural Prep (Quick Feet) (10 mins)

ORGANIZATION:

4 Lines of 3 players per line. Rows of 4 cones per line (16 cones), 2 feet apart.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Players will begin the warm up by going through a series of instructions through the cones (wrap arounds, quick feet, slalom, stepovers, ups / downs, 1 foot sprint, lunge, side shuffle, jockey, jog backwards,sprints etc.)

OBJECTIVES:

Imporved neuro muscular coordination, speed and power

Global #1 - Defending Against a team playing out the back (15 mins)

ORGANIZATION:

Set up a playing area using half of a full sized field 7 Black bibs for the black team, 5 White bibs for the white team. One green bib for GK and Yellow bib for server. Hava an additional black bib ready for the introduction of the server as a player in the prograssion phase. One large goal in Zone 1; two small goals at midfield at the end of Zone 2. Have a supply of balls just outside the center circle, for easy access for re-starts by the server. Set up two teams using 14 players: 7 players on black team + GK to play a 1-2-3-2 vs. 5 players on white team to play in a 2-2-1. Add one server at the centre cirlce.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Play starts with the server playing the ball into the GK. GK will play the ball out to a black teammate. Black team will then look to build out from the back and try to score a goal by scoring into one of the two mini goals. White will look to defend the 2 mini goals and regain possession and attack the large goal. White must be encouraged to establish a line of confrontation in Zone 1, and good balance and compactness in Zone 2 as objectives to the activity.

COACHING POINTS:

Balance and Compactness for players away from the ball

Cover and Support for players close to the ball

Patience - dont dive in unless attacker takes a poor touch. Go after a winnable ball with front foot

Protect the goal - force the attacker away from the goal.

Decide to Pressure or Delay as you close space

Win ball with front foot if attacker takes a bad touch

Keep your eye on the ball, and defend an arms length away on the ball of your feet

Pressure as the ball travels - read player cues.

MID / FBs cut off space along the flank. MID block middle channels. ST prevents the switch.

Move as a group, move as the ball travels and communicate

Nearest defender / mid pressures the ball to prevent forward passes.

Second mid player tries to close off forward passing lane

PROGRESSIONS:

Intorduce the server as a striker for the balck team that can play in the centre half circle (D) as a passing option.

Global #2 - 7v7 fee play game (15 mins)

ORGANIZATION:

50 x 60yd (Halfway Line) Playing Area. 7v7. Include Goalkeepers. Use different formations for each team. White - 1-2-3-1, and Black - 1-3-2-1. Place extra balls on outside of grid for easy access

One team wears white bibs, opposing team wears black bibs. GK for White wears a Red Bib, and GK for Black wears a Green Bib. Set up 2 goals at each end as the targets.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Try to score more goals than the opposing team in the alotted game time.

Any ball out of play restarts with a kick in.  No Offsides.

Balls out of play at the end lines, will restart will the GK playing it in.

COACHING POINTS:

Freeplay. Encourage teams to keep shape and consolidate the coaching points from throughout the session.