Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): Defensive Transition - Stop the attack in central spaces

Passing practice (10 mins)

16 Players, two groups of 8 bibbes up.

Then one team will line up in a 4-2-2 formation to perform static stretches for 60 seconds (blue).

4 players at a time from the opposite team (red) should perform between 4-6 passes to the goal and finish. Then the next four gp.

Swap roles every 60 seconds for 8-10 minutes.

Modified Game (15 mins)

7v7+2+GK's

Using the full length of the field, split the area into two 35x35 boxes with a 30x35 box in the middle. The edges of the 30x35 box will be used as a off-side line.

To begin the practice the coach will play a ball into the central area. The team in possession will look to build the play and break into the final third to create a Goal scoring opportunity. The Defending team must prevent the Attacking team from progressing forwards and regain the ball. After regaining the ball the Counter Attacking team must look to Penetrate quickly to get a shot off at goal within 10 seconds.

Game always restarts from central area

Bouncers two touch, cannot play through to transition.

Pressing

• Upon losing the ball, the defender closestto the ball must aggressively press the player on the ball as soon as possible. This is to stop dangerous passes over, through or around, as well as dribbling and running with the ball.

• Defenders away from the ball must create defensive depth by being positioned slightly deeper than the pressing player. This prevents the Attacking team from playing split passes between Defenders. Covering Defenders should be ready to get pressure or delay should they become the closest Defender to the ball. Defenders furthest away from the ball must tuck in and mark the space around the covering players, giving the team Balance.

Concentration

• The Defending team must maintain short distances front to back and side to side to prevent the Attacking team from finding space between the Defenders and Defensive lines. Passes that break lines can take multiple Defenders out of the game quickly.

Control & Restraint

• The Defenders must identify if they are close enough to get pressure on the ball, if they are too far away they must hold their position or drop to protect the space behind them. If a Defender presses without the support of their teammates they risk becoming isolated and easy to play around. Defenders must not dive into tackles or give away cheap fouls that allow the opposition to escape pressure.
  

Out of possession s #4 5 must keep the team compact and not drop early which will create space in midfield.

Holding Midfielder

The role of #6 out of possession will be to prevent the Attacking team from playing the ball into the space between the Defending and Midfield units. If #6 is marking a player they must keep them facing away from the goal and prevent the Attacker from turning and playing forwards. 

Central Midfielder

• #8 must adjust their position depending on the position of the player they are marking, this will the opposition from creating a spare player when out of possession.

Attacking Midfielder

#10 must prevent the opposition #6 from connecting the play between the Defensive and attacking units or recycling the ball if it is played backwards.

Forwards

#9 must prevent the opposition #4 5 from playing forwards into midfielders.