Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): UEFA 'A' Licence - General Principle (3) Defensive Transition: Protect Central Areas

General Practice (15 mins)

Principle-based training: In Possession to Out of Possession transition

Initial Framing

- Reaction when losing possession is key. Narrowing of the box (examples of 2 ST and 2 CM)

Protecting central areas

SESSION OBJECTIVES 

To develop a team’s understanding of defensive principles through emphasising:

• Quick transition for players when losing possession (i.e., getting compact, forcing wide)

• Timing of press and body position to create the opposition problems

Out of possession:

• Protecting central areas
• Balanced and compact shape

In possession:

• Consider the weaknesses if possession is lost
• Speed of play

Organisation

• 11 players (3 common players [yellow]; 4v4 [Red and Blue] 
• 1 support coach (white) to serve balls 

Rules / conditions

• Multi-directional 
• The team in possession [red or blue] must keep the ball with the yellows looking to break lines and stretching the oppositions shape. (The pass down the sides is a free pass)

• The team out of possession looks to win the ball back, whilst protecting central areas.

• Once ball is won/lost, the team must transitions in/out of possession.

Area Sizes

• 30 x 20

Blocks (work: rest)

10-12 mins

5 x 90 second blocks 

45 seconds rest between blocks

Breakdown of blocks

Blocks 1

Play - Teams must look after the ball as best they can - once possession is lost they must look at the transition. Here, ensuring understanding of the key principles of maintaining shape and protecting central areas.

Blocks 2 & 3

Team out of possession - give them a focused shape (2-2). Providing them with a platform to be able to press.

Blocks 4 & 5

PROGRESSION: players are given the option of passing over from one yellow to another. Focusing on the defensive team needing to get pressure on the ball as well protecting central areas.