Defending in our own half/Defending a Lead/1v1s&Organisation. RPE 6. 90 Mins.
ARRIVAL ACTIVITY
PRESSING IN SMALL GROUPS. 20 mins.
Practice Organization: Groups of 3. Coach feeds ball into either team who proceed to attack opposite end zone by dribbling ball over the yellow cones. GK's are wall players, playing for team in possession and are limited 2 touch and no tackle from inside players. If one team lose ball, ball is played into opposite team.
Coaching Points and Details: Pressing distance, stance and balance. Support distance, depth, angle and team balance. Tracking runners whilst maintaining eye contact with ball and the developing play. Defending against wall passes and movement of attackers. Early decision to attack or defend. Take personal responsibility for direct opponent when defending. Press, cover, support and track opponents. Concentration and managing player rotations individually and as a unit. Strong desire to win ball and in tackle.
Progressions: Add target player in end zones to play into, to receive and return ball inside, this increases need for defending team to consider screening the target player. Add 2 mini goals at each end zone with a GK so once entered end zone, attacker can have shot.
Main Activity
Wave Defending Practice. 30 mins.
Practice Organization: Play starts with GK who plays to any of the 3 red players, upon the kick, 3 white players sprint out to defend the big goal, if white team win ball, they look to score in mini goals, no double transitions - other set of players come in. Blue cones represent an offside line. Play inside the width of the 18 yard box.
Coaching Points and Details: Intensity to sprint out and defend high. Communicate to see which player presses ball - stance and balance, others provide cover and support. Support distance, depth, angle and team balance. Take personal responsibility for opponent when defending individually and as a unit. Concentration and managing player rotations individually and as a unit. Height and distance on clearances. Strong in the tackle/desire to win ball.
Progression: Wide player in each channel to give 2 extra attacking options, one extra defender can come out. Full width.
Small Sided Games
Continuous Defending Large Group. 30 mins.
Practice Organization: Half pitch with 2 channels inside opposing half with target player in each. Play starts when Coach feeds ball into attacking team (red) who look to build and score in big goal .If defending team win ball they look to play into either target player, then coach recycles play back into attacking team. Play continuously for 5 mins, then switch teams over.
Coaching Points and Details: Continuous un interrupted defending for 5 mins period includes defending when organized and re organizing when losing possession. Concentration and communication between team mates in defensive situations. Movement and positioning of defenders in relation to location and movement of ball. Distances between players, units and GK. Pressing and forcing opponents wide. Tracking and marking opponents and space. Continuous positioning and changing defending roles and responsibilities whilst regaining and maintaining defensive. Strong desire to win ball back and in tackle. Dominate the 1v1 duels.
Progressions: On receiving possession, target player may quickly carry ball forward as an extra attacker, - (scenario is, defending team are 1-0 up and protecting a lead). Attacking team may use target players as support underneath to relieve opponents defensive pressure.