Coach Defending Direct Play

Soccer Drills Coach Defending Direct Direct Play

Site:Soccer Drills & Football Drills - Professional Soccer Coaching http://www.professionalsoccercoaching.com Title:Coach Defending Direct Play - Created: 11 December 2011 Coach Defending Direct Play Drill Objective(s) 1) 2)

Coach a team in how to defend against against dircect play or long balls. Coach the back four and GK on how to defend long balls. balls.

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Drill No: Age: No Players: Difficulty: Area/Time:

APHA7 15-Adult 18 Advanced 2/3 Field (25mins)

Diagram 1

ORGANISATION: * Mark out 2/3 of a full size size pitch. Starting position position of just outside outside the centre circle, circle, indicated indicated by a yellow cone. cone. * A 3vs1 playing area is designated of approx. 20 yrds deep just behind the half way line (this area can be pushed deeper for more more advanced players). Total length of the field is approx. 70yrds. 70yrds. * Attacking Team (Blue) play a 3-3-2 formation. * Defending Team Team (Red) play play a 4-4-1 formation (+GK). This This team defends with two blocks of 4 players players (midfield (midfield block and defending block). * Play is initiated from the Starting Position (SP1). * Offside rule is in effect effect and should be monitored monitored by a coach coach or assistant coach is possible. INSTRUCTIONS: * Blue team attacks the full size goal and attempts to score. * Red team attempts to play a successful pass into Red 9 or dribble into into the end end zone just beyond the half way line. * Play starts from the Starting Point Point and ends ends when the ball is out of play (the phase is then restarted). Progressions Progressions of the Starting Points will give different coaching scenarios as detailed below in the progressions. 1) 2)

Red 6 Midfielder mishits mishits a through pass to Red 11 and Blue 2 takes possession possession of the ball. Blue 2 takes a touch touch and then delivers delivers a long aerial ball over the red back line line (preferably between Red Red 3 and Red 4).

STARTING POSITIONS: 1) SP1 - From the centre of the field, Red Red 6 mishits a through ball to Red 11. (Diagram 1).

Page 1 of 4 - Print date: 24 January 2012 http://www.professionalsocc http://www.pr ofessionalsoccercoaching. ercoaching.com com

Soccer Drills Coach Defending Direct Play

Site:Soccer Drills & Football Drills - Professional Soccer Coaching http://www.professionalsoccercoaching.com Title:Coach Defending Direct Play - Created: 11 December 2011

SP2 2) - Blue 7 maintains possession and is forced to play a negative pass back to Blue 2 following pressure from Red 11. (Diagram 3). SP3 3) - 3 Blue Players vs 1 Red Player maintain possession until there is an opportunity to play a long ball forward. (Diagram 4). SCORING: * The attacking team scores by scoring on the full size goal. * The defending team scores by passing into Red player 9 or by dribbling into the end zone. KEY COACHING POINTS: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15)

Switch on when defending. Read the play down field and react from what you see (i.e. trigger to drop and narrow would be an opponent shaping to hit a long ball unopposed. Team becomes more compact and drops deep and narrows (Refer to Diagram 2). GK communication to indicate whether they are coming to collect or expect the defenders to clear. Clear decisions from the centre backs on when to drop and when to step. If ball is played long to the corner to a diagonal run from a forward, if the centre back tracks this run, outside back slides in and assumes the centre back role. Team slides to strong side of the field to compact space. Track forward runs in the midfield area. Recovery runs to get goal side of the ball and markers. Discuss how deep to drop, do we hold the line and leave them offside (dependent on team tactics). Defend on the attackers inside shoulders with anticipation marking technique prior to dropping off. Head on a swivel to check other defenders positions. Communication on who is stepping to pressure if long ball drops short, mark etc. Be clear a specific. Defenders should be side on and ready to drop. Protect the space behind before the space in front!! its more dangerous.

Diagram 2 – How the defending line (back 4) react to a ball played over them.

{flowplayer |width=560|height=400}http://professionalsoccercoaching.com/html/images/videos/defendingdirectplay.flv{/flowplayer} PROGRESSIONS: Additional Starting Positions are shown in the two diagrams below: Diagram 3 – SP2 - First time ball forward under pressure.

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Diagram 4 – SP3 - Possession (3vs1) prior to ball played long.

VARIATIONS: 1) 2)

Perform on both side of the field (switch sides). Adjust the arrangement/formation of the red team to the teams actual formation (i.e. If a team plays with 3 at the back as opposed to 4, etc).




NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS: Decision making of the back line is vital in this exercise. Players have to be switched on and ready to react to long balls and have the ability to monitor play further up the field to determine how the back line should react.


Coach Defending Direct Play

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