Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending the final Third genral

GP - Defending the Final Third (20 mins)

key factors defending the final third welsh way principles 

understand how and why we are defending the final third based on pressure applied from attacking side

organisation 

Area - 40x40 in two equal halves with a channel on each side 9 players   4 v4 3v3 in the final third with  one player from each team in the other half and gk

20 mins 5 blocks of 3 mins with 1 min breaks for interventions

coach to coach red team in defending the final third welsh way principles 

assistant coach to manage  blue team on attacking principles to add realism 

conditions challenges and targets

3 of the red team and 3 of the blue team  must always remain in the final third  throughout the session  

The coach always starts play by playing into The blue team in their own half.  with 1 red player putting pressure on the blue team  to screen passes into the blue team , the blue team are  looking for openings to break the opposition  lines for through balls and crosses for player to run onto and either score or provide passes for first time finish. 

 If red team win the ball can they play into  there target player or straight into mini goals out wide for a point

Blue team will score 2 points for any goal scored

Red team must work as a unit to solve the problem of stopping the blue team playing through around or over (breaking lines the welsh way)

. There is no numerical advantage in there defensive half so must work together to defend the goal and try to force the blue team out wide into channel

Can the red player on his own use his body shape to dictate where he wants them to play and also screen passes back into blue player.

Red team will score a extra  point if they force the blue team into the channel

• coaching points
• get to player early and get there head down to stop them running at us
• travel as the ball is traveling, go together arrive together stay together
• prevent split passes 
• keep compact
• leave furthest player 
• protect the middle and the space in behind
• communication 
• delay deflect deny, bodies on line to stop crosses 
• show away from goal force wide 

Progression

• limit touches for the blue team or give them a time limit to encourage quick play to give the red team more problems
• bring in 1  extra attacker to overload red team to make it harder for them

interventions 

walk through 

terminal 

concurrent 

coaching process