Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Recognising when to drop and when to push up: Back four - U15s (Start Time: 2018-10-20 09:30:00)

Lead in activity (15 mins)

3v3 or 4v3 if numbers dictate on pitches with end zones. Ball starts with a team in their end zone where they cannot be tackled, with aim of getting the ball into the opponents end zone by dribbling or passing to a team mate. 

If the ball is under control when the attacker dribbles or receives the ball in the end zone, the attacking team is awarded a point. Alternate teams so each time plays one another, each games lasts 3 minutes. If a player arrives in the end zone without the ball, they are deemed offside

Coaching points:

Press: Nearest player presses the ball; Press; 4S's:

- Shut down; sprint towards attacker, consider curved run to begin

showing away

- Slow down; broken arm's distance

- Sit down; feet in opposition, knees bent, arms by sides, elbows bent

- Show down; Angle of approach during sprint, and body facing desired space to show attacker (e.g. to touchline nearest).

- 1v1 defending, poke tackle or snatch to win the ball when opponent is static or takes a poor touch.

Cover & Balance: second players (s) cover and third supports/ marks.

Compactness: Team without the ball stay close together to deny space in behind to score

- Drop when no pressure on the ball to protect endzone.

- intercept through balls and manage opposition's possession as a unit

Progressions:

- A counter attack point from their own half is worth double

- a team that is doing well plays against four or have a neutral player in a 3v3

Phase of play (15 mins)

Organiation: 1-4-3-3 (out of possession) against a 1-4-4-2 or a 1-4-3-3 (in possession) in the middle and part of the attacking third of the pitch or a playing area of similar size. 

Practise starts with the oppositions (red team) deepest player (goalkeeper, centre back or holding midfielder) who either takes a free kick or takes a touch and play begins. 

The aim is for the white team to regain possession and get the ball through the gates (transition element) or score if there is a second goalkeeper (see below). The back four must start between the yellow and orange line with the secondary unit in front within 20 yards.

If number are not ideal, may taper off a side (shaded side and blue cones) to focus on central players.

Primary player: Centre backs (5&6)

Primary unit (PU): Back four and goalkeeper (1,2,5,6,3) 

Secondary Units (SU): Midfield 3 (4, 8 & 10)

Opposition management: To create goal scoring opportunities and score

Coaching points:

Press: 

- Nearest player to ball presses (4S's), 1v1 defending to win the ball.

Cover & Balance: 

- second players (s) cover and third supports/ marks.

Compactness: 

- Team without the ball stay close together to deny space in behind to score

- Drop when no pressure on the ball to space in behind & deny goalscoring opportunties.

- intercept through balls and manage opposition's possession as a unit

- be proactive; back four come on to any direct balls, goalkeeper sweep up anything in behind with good starting position (penalty spot)

Triggers: 

- Pressure on the ball from 8 and 10? 4 covers, PU push up (balance) towards orange line maintaining a distance of 10 yards from 4 and 20 yards from 8 & 10.

- Pressure on the ball from 4? Drop/ push up to around halfway between the yellow and orange line (mid block)

- No pressure on the ball in midfield (red midfielders) or press beaten (SU)? Back four drop to Orange line, goalkeeper drops towards goal (penalty spot) in anticipation of direct pass

Adaptations/ Progressions:

- Remove reference lines

- Transition progressions (see below)

- Have a one less player for the white team to lessen the overload impact

- make the game continuous with throw ins, corners etc.

Small sided game (30 mins)

10 minutes free play

10 minute condition:Counter attack goals from own half worth double.

Last 10: The white team are 2-1 up, they have 5 minutes left plus injury time (there has been a big stoppage) to hold their lead, can they do it without their top scorer? Can they get a counter-attack goal to secure the win?