Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): U17 Girls Indoor - Defending Zone 3-4 with a Press

3 Team Possession (15 mins)

6 v 3 Possession

Instructions:  

First Set: 

• encourage defenders to press every ball for the 90 seconds
• 3 sets of 60-90 seconds

Second Set:  

• Press with 2-4 players and have the remaining players balance the press
• anticipate the next play and watch for the long switch and be aggressive

Third Set: 

• One team on the outside as neutrals and two teams in the middle keeping the ball bouncing it off the outside players with a neutral in the middle

Coaching Points: 

• Be aggressive on every pass

• React and anticipate the next pass
• deny long switches

Analytical - Game Play (20 mins)

Organization:

• Field is 50yds wide and extends to the half way line.
• Teams playing in a 1-2-1-2, then 1-2-2-1, then mix both together..
• Need 6 cones, 16 balls beside the net, 8 red bibs, GK jersey, and 7 yellow bibs.

C1 - In this coaching position, I will focus on the overall shape (tight team) and attitude from the striker and midfielders making sure they are screening and covering the pass to a player behind them.

Description:

Scrimmage

• Re-start from the GK when a goal is scored.
• Coach the yellow team focusing on the forward and midfielders on how to defend in a block while in zone 3&4, 
• Manage the red team by having them play from the back because yellow is is working on pressing hard.

Coaching Points:

• Delaying
  • 1st Def applies pressure to prevent forward passes or dribbling 
• Cover/screening 
  • 2nd Def provides cover for the space in behind the 1st defender. 
  • apply pressure on the ball while screening the pass to other team's members(red team). *keep them in your shadow*
• Balance
  • 3rd Def provides balance on far side while pinching in to stay connected.
• Shift and stay Compact - stat tight at a team and do not get split by passes or dribbling. Be discipline to shift and cover your teammate and not be too concerned with man marking.
• Communication - are the players talking to each other on where they need to be and if they are in the correct screening/cover position

Where are they on the field? Close to our goals? Far away? Where do we want to win the ball?

How to defend 2-1-2 vs 2-1-2 OR 2-2-1 vs 2-1-2 OR  2-2-1 vs 2-2-1