Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Control their Counter

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Name:	Nick Rundle
City:	Toowoomba
Country:	Australia
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

This is a shorter but more intense session whos aim is to focus the teams ability to react immediately after the loss of possession to Control the oppositions ability to start a counter attack and to regain possession quickly by suffocating the opponents who are in possession.

We start with a 5v2 Rondo to focus on the speed and angle of the press and learning when to apply a defensive 2v1.

We move to a 5v5+3 to further develop the principles of counter press and introduce the role of the third defenders in covering passing lanes and reacting quickly when the ball moves in to their zone.

We finish with a game (8v8) where we then look to control the size of the pitch of the opposition has to play in, how to maintain the intensity of press and looking at blind side presses and pressing triangles to further restrict the oppositions ability to counter attack. This 8v8 should include cues and triggers on when to stop the press and organise into our defensive shape.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 5 v 2 Rondo

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5 v 2 Rondo (15 mins)

5v2 Rondo

Set up:

10m x 10m.

Function:

two defenders press until possession is won.

1 in, 1 out.

Upon winning possession the defender going out should drop (hand on) the bib and immediately join the players in possession.

The ball should begin moving within 3 seconds.

The players in possession should be limited to 1 or 2 touches to keep ball movement at speed.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 5v5+3

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5v5+3 (20 mins)

5 v 5 + 3

Set Up

Mark a square

The playing area isdivided into four zones: Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3 andZone 4.

Explanation:

Two teams of six players compete to retain possession,with three neutral players (black) playing forwhichever team has possession at any given time.

• The game should have a normal flow to it. The onlymovement restriction is that a maximum of two playersfrom each team (plus the neutral players) can be in thesame zone at the same time – making it a 4 v 2.

• All players are restricted to a maximum of 2 touches.

• If the possession team (Red) canconnect 10 passes, that equals one goal (or punishment).

• If the defending team (blue) win the ballback, they must connect at least 3 passes in the samezone (with the blacks joining them) before playing into a new zone and becoming thepossession team.

• The aim for any team losing possession is to win the ballback in the same zone within 3 passes. If they do so,they remain the possession team and aim to connect10 more passes for another goal.

• When the ball goes out of bounds, a new ball will beplayed in by the coach.

COACHING DETAIL:

DEFENSIVE TRANSITION

IMMEDIATE PRESSURE CLOSE TO THE BALL

• When possession is lost, react quickly to suffocate the opposition before they have a chance to regain shape and structure.

• The player closest to the ball should initiate pressure,forcing play towards the sidelines and away from supporting boxes that would allow them to pass out of the square. The first defendermust avoid being dribbled past.

COVERING DEFENDER

• The second defender should look to provide cover inthe first line, denying the possibility of the opponentplaying a split pass.

• This covering defender should position on a backwardsangle from their teammate, to defend the split pass andbe in a good position to press upon a lateral pass.

SWITCHING ROLES

• The player pressuring the ball should continue to pressuntil the opposition play a pass that is too far away forthem to intervene.

• When this happens, the covering defender should nowinitiate pressure on the ball. The first defender thenassumes the role of covering defender.

PLAYERS NEAR, TO AND FAR FROM THE BALL

• Players outside the zone containing the ball shouldlook to reduce the width of the field.

• The defensive players in a box without the ball need to work on covering passing lanes to restrict the options for the team in possession because once the ball is 'out' it is much harder to press.

ADDITIONAL COACHING DETAIL:

MANAGING THE OPPOSITION RECOVERING THE BALL

• Upon recovering the ball, the team now in possession should circulate it quickly, playing to the first passing option available and using one and two touches. After three passes, quickly switch play towards a new zone.

• The players near, to and far away from the ball should quickly reposition to ensure the team is occupying full width and depth.

IN POSSESSION POSITIONING

• The coach should encourage the possession team to generate triangles and diamonds. Those shapes will not only help facilitate possession, but also help the team to have a good structure in order to counter-press quickly

• Moving balls between boxes at speed and keeping the defensive team on the move will help the team in possession reach 10

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 7v7+GK

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7v7+GK (40 mins)

7v7+GK

Set Up:

18 yard to 18 yard as shown.

Function:

Shape: 1-3-3-1

In this example blue starts the attack.

The team in possession is allowed (a maximum) 5 passes in their defensive half however once they make the fifth pass OR enter their attacking half (before the fifth pass) they have 10 seconds to score.

Should the defending team win possession in their attacking half their 10 seconds starts immediately.

If the ball goes out play restarts from the GK for the team that would have won the throw.

Alternate start: if we need to work on throw ins play could restart from a throw in the team in possessions defensive half.

Offside applies

Coaching Points:

Immediately pressure the ball

• Can the player closest to the ball should initiatepressure, forcing the play towards the sidelines.

• Should the team be disorganised and the player closestto the ball is alone they should look to delay the counter attack forcing a back or sideways pass.

Covering (2nd) defenders:

• The second defender should look to provide cover inthe first line, denying the possibility of a split pass.They should position on a backwards angle from theirteammate, to defend the split pass and be in a goodposition to press upon a lateral pass.

• Covering defenders need to move at the same pace as the player pressing the ball.

Maintain the pressure - Blind Side Press

• The player pressuring the ball should continue to pressuntil the opposition play a pass that is too far away forthem to intervene. If a ball is played where a second defender is closer don't stop the press but look to pressure from the blind side making a defensive 2v1.

Pressing Centrally

• When the opposition have possession in central areas can we create a pressing triangle to prevent any ability to play a forward pass.

Defenders Furthest from the Ball

• Can the players furthest from the ball look to reduce width and condense space - we want to force them to play in one quarter of the pitch.

When they break in to space

• Should the opposition break pressure and switch play,the team should organise into their defensive structureof 1-3-3-1.

• When the ball is lost in the attacking half, the playerson the far side of the ball should look to reduce width quickly,while the team organises its defensive line.

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