Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending - Out of balance

2v1 - outnumbered

Practice organisation

- Groups of three

- 2 attackers vs 1 defender

- Attackers cannot score until beyond red line

- Defenders score with pass through small counter goal

- Players rotate roles

Challenges

- TRY TO...

- Cut out the pass between the attacking players

- Block the ball carriers route to goal

- Be brave and commit to blocking passes and shots

Detail

- Assess the threat

- Decision on when to press ball carrier to create 1v1

- Stay between ball and goal

Key Coaching Points

- Delaying tactics

- Use of offside strategy

- Blocking route to goal

Defending with imbalance of numbers

Practice organisation

- Area 60x40yds set-out in three areas with goals at each end, as illustrated.

- 14 players (incl. 2GKs), with Defenders initially having a 3v2 advantage in own half.

Practice starts with:

- GK rolls ball-out to Attacking team.

- Play has to build through mid area, with one A able to enter to make 3v1.

- Play moves into D’s half with 2A’s able to join-in & make 4v3 advantage.

- D’s have to prevent A’s from scoring whilst outnumbered.

- If D’s gain possession: they look to quickly counter-attack opponents.

- Roles of players changes when play is reversed.

Challenges

- TRY TO...

- Create even numbers (or numbers up) situations and press to win the ball

- Stop the attackers switching the play

- Be brave and commit to blocking passes and shots

Detail

- Allocation of marking & covering roles when having defensive advantage.

- Early decisions as to who confronts the player in possession when ball enters defending third & roles of other D’s.

- Pressing ball & deflecting attacking play away from central goal scoring areas when outnumbered.

- Constant changes of role & responsibility.

- Maintaining safe defensive structure when counter-attack is initiated.

Simple progression for this practice is:

- D from middle zone can recover to the defending zone, to make 4v4.

Key coaching points

- D’s organise strategy with numerical advantage of 3v2.

- Quick re-organisation required to deal with numerical disadvantage of 3v4.

- On gaining possession: quick adjustments necessary to initiate counter-attack.

PROGRESS TO A SMALL SIDED GAME

- Incorporate all prior points