Ball possession Opponent:
Limit Goal scoring opportunities
SESSION PLAN
PRESENTATION
Football Problem
• Players need better understanding of their
individual & collective roles in defending as a
team.
• Need to keep compact & limit opponents goal
scoring options.
• Better communication & positioning with
disciplined attitude is required.
Objectives of the Session
• Today I aim to improve…. Teams
ability to prevent BP team getting
the ball and one of their players into
a goal scoring position in our
defensive 3rd.
Defending
Core Skills:
-
Pressing
Marking
Intercepting
Tackling
Positioning
Communication
Passing Practice
Organization
½ field
16 players
2 groups of 8 players split into 4 v 4
Explanation/Progression:
BPO Back 4 defenders play in zone width
6 yard box on outside edge 18 yard box /
depth 1m past D.
They must prevent 3 BP midfieders in
zone to ½ way playing killer pass
between them to BP 9 who is playing in
behind inside p/box and trying to get in
space where he can receive ball.
Var: Make area wider right out to 18
yard lines if need to make it very difficult
for back 4.
Var: 9 to try and play ball straight back
through for transition moment.
Var: allow 1 of the back 4 to drop in to
cover 9 better
Var: allow 1 of back 4 to step out to
press mids.
Var: have coach?assist astarget for back
4 if they win ball.
Rotate players/positions/teams.
Back 4 in middle zone must stay compact & not allow 3
players in top end zone time & space to play through to
their striker in bottom end zone.
Rotate strikers/teams every few minutes or sooner.
Passing Practice
Progression:
Move into semi-positioning game by
having 3 v 1 in one end zone trying to
keep ball & play through 2 screens in
middle zone to their striker/target
man who is in 1 v 1 in other end zone
& has 4 touches to run ball over end
line.
3 v 1 at one end try to keep possession until they can
play through 2 screens in middle zone to their target
man who must go 1 v 1 against defender & has 4
touches to get ball over end line.
Rotate teams/positions every 2 minutes or more
often.
Positioning
Game
Organization:
16 players in grid 6 yard box to halfway split in equal
halves.
balls bibs, cones
4 v 2 in grids, with neutral player at each end, &
bouncer on each side.
Starts from a Neutral playing in to back 4.
2 minutes then rotate defenders with
neutrals/bouncers.
Rotate players from grid to grid
Offside applies
Explanation/Progression:
BP Team: Must keep possession and get ball into
front ½ and then through Front players to Neutral
player at end.
BPO Team: stop other team from getting ball to
Neutral and win possession then counter to own
neutral.
Game restarts
Bouncers / Neutrals play for BP team.
Variations/Conditions:
BP team-Limit 2 touch- limit 6
nd
passes- every 2 pass must be forward.
Team task: BPO can you prevent BP team playing
through to Neutral.
Player Tasks: Back 4 – when ball is in their back half
can you compress & get compact sliding as a unit
keeping ball as focus of your positioning.
Front 2 – can 1 engage ball and the other screen fwd
pass.
Coach’s Cues:
As the ball is travelling can you anticipate & reset
defensive shape.
st
Repetitions of 1 touch, handling speed, passing
speed & accuracy, with positioning to play forward in
tight area
Game Training
Organization:
16 players in ½ field with 2m channels running length sideline.
balls bibs, cones
Back 6 + GK v 6 in field, with neutral player at centre circle, &
bouncers on each side.
Starts from a Neutral playing in to front 6.
5min then rotate attackers or defenders with neutral/bouncers.
Offside applies
Explanation/Progression:
BP team: Try to score on goal
BPO team: set a compact defense with high line, closing down ball
and direct pass to goal. Limit options of attackers to play effective
forward balls. Prevent shots on goal.
When you gain possession try to play out to neutral at centre circle
for a point.
Team Task: BPO team can you prevent opponent getting any shots
on goal.
Player Tasks: Back 4 – when ball is in their possession & travelling
from their back half can you compress & get compact sliding as a
unit keeping ball as focus of your positioning.
BPO team: set a compact defense, keep a high line, closing down
ball and direct pass to goal. Limit options of attackers to play
effective forward balls.
Can you back 4 keep a short distance between your defensive line
and midfield 6/8 [no more than 10m] to make it difficult for BP
player to have time/space between lines.
Can you 6 /8 when engaging player in BP show him towards closest
sideline with angled body positioning.[ Inside to Outside pressure
on the ball]
Can you 6/8 when screening position yourself goalside/ballside of
6/8 to prevent pass/run direct to goal if BP player gets past or cuts
inside 6/8.
Can you block shots
Coach’s Cues:
BPO team as the ball travels
outsidendthe scoring zone can you
st
quickly swap roles as 1 defender, 2 defender, screen.
When the ball is with the BP team in scoring zone focus should be
on man on man defending/blocking any shots on goal.
If BP team plays ball backwards can you step up as unit and steal
some space/push them away from goal.
Coach each other [communicate/anticipate/cover], always have a
defender pressure the opponent who has the ball.
Training Game
Organization: Field same size as Game
Training with portable goal on ½ way.
16 players 6 Red + GK v 6 Blue + GK +
bouncers on each sideline zone
Bibs, 2 x large goal, balls
If option can make field slightly
longer, portable goal on back of
c/circle.
Explanation/Progression
Attack against defence
Offside applies to both teams.
Maintain quality of game and attitude
of players, its not a free for all.