SESSION PLAN PRESENTATION Ball possession Opponent: Deny opponents time & space to build up Win the ball back as soon as possible SESSION PLAN PRESENTATION

Football Problem Allowing opponent to play through our 1st line of defense too easily Not recognizing or creating right moment to press collectively Our 1st line of defense 7/9/11 needs to work together as a defensive unit and show greater mobility. 6/8/10 need to support from behind and shut off central passing options for opponent.

Objectives of the Session Today I aim to improve….the ability of the team to press the ball in opponents half & deny them time & space to build up or play a forward ball.

Defending Core Skills: Pressing Marking Intercepting Tackling Positioning Communication Not closing down the ball & 7/10/9/6 poorly positioned. Ball is passed between our players to their 8 who turns & travels forward 11 has not slid across to support 9. Our 7 jockeys but does not close down their 5 who has ball. 5 goes long to the 9 who runs in behind & scores.

Passing Practice Organization: 16 players –GK inc Edge box to ½ way, either full width or half way to box for youth teams – Players set out in Back 5 shape inc GK & 6. 1 group playing out from penalty box. Other group playing back from halfway set out as front 5 + 6 deep. Spare player from each group at GK & deep 6. Explanation/Progression Ball starts with GK, ball is passed 3-2-6-4-5-. 5 then dribbles to GK & restarts. All players follow their pass. 3 minutes anti-clockwise then go clockwise with 4 starting passing sequence, 4-5-6-3-2. Have 2 or 3 balls in motion. Other group passing sequence starting from their deep 6, ball is passed 10-7-9-11-8-6 then 8-11-9-7-10-6. Follow your pass. Approx 12-15 minutes total time. Keep balls moving avoiding other team & their balls. Free passing sequence or add passive defender to each group.

Passing Practice Progression: Team playing out from goal mouth is now passively defended by front 6 who focus on pressing the ball as it travels through passing sequence. BPO team should shift left/right and high/low to always have pressure on player receiving ball. Allow random passing sequence to BP team with ball going home after 6 passes. Allow BPO team to intercept ball but no tackling. BPO players - Try to deny BP player option to pass forward. Var: Make 2 touch or 1 touch passing

Positioning Game Organization: 4 Defenders playing out to 1 Target man V 3 Strikers in 2 grids – 16 players in total. Area: sideline into 1/3 way across D wide on both sides / depth edge box to halfway line.- coaching strip in between areas. Explanation/Progression BP 4 defenders start with ball from edge box, playing out V 3 BPO strikers. Defenders must make 5 passes then play out to target player or [carry ball over ½ way if 1 player short]. BPO Red Team Task: can we stop the Blue team getting a player & the ball into the end zone Player Tasks: Player Actions: Press the player in possession, can you show them toward short side or where your other defenders are covering. Can you position yourselves to prevent forward passes/runs Can you screen balls into the target man Coach’s Cues: Can 4 Blues play through to target man in end zone for a point. Can Red win the ball & dribble over end line for point. Start 4v2 in main zone with 1 red resting/swapping after each point. Go 4v3 in main zone but allow end zone blue to move in or out to make 5v3 & then allow any of blues to carry or receive ball in end zone for a point. Make field bigger/smaller by moving target zone closer to ½ way line, dependent upon age/ability of players.

Positioning Game Team tasks: Can 4 Blues play through to target man in end zone for a point. Can Red win the ball & dribble over end line for point. Player Tasks: BP- Can you spread out when you win the ball & make field big as possible ( use all space in the grid). BPO- Can you put immediate pressure on the ball as it travels. BPO- Can you delay their passing/movement by closing down passing options & making field small BPO- Can you position yourselves to prevent forward passes/runs BPO- Can you screen balls into the target man Coach’s Cues: BPO- As the ball is travelling can you anticipate the direction/quality of receiver's 1st touch. BPO- When we transition can we get ball forward quickly.

Game Training Organization: 16 players – BP[9] back 5 + mid 3 & 9 playing out V BPO [7]front 3 + mid 3 & CD. large goal + 3 small goals. Bibs, Balls Explanation/Progression: BP team must keep effective possession & dribble over ½ way or play through their 9 to pass ball though 1 of 3 small goals 10m over halfway. BPO team must prevent this and when they gain possession they have approx 20 sec to score through normal goal. All starts/restarts from GK. All balls in back of goal. Monitor shape/ – transition & shifting of BP team to ensure realism, remind them if required that they are trying to stop BPO scoring if they win the ball. Team Task: BPO Press collectively as high as possible to regain possession or prevent opponent playing out. Player Tasks: BPO 7/9/11- can you work together as a unit to delay opponents and squeeze/lead them to one of the flanks. 9: Can you position yourself to press centre back in possession & block pass back to GK or the switch to other centre back. 7/11 Can you position yourself to prevent their 2/5 when in possession travelling or passing forward. Show them back inside. When ball is on other flank can you position yourself between their c/back & your opp f/back to prevent ball being played to f/back, or where you can press c/back from opp side to your 9.

Game Training continued- Player Tasks: 10/6/8- can you work as a unit and form a defensive block in the midfield. 10- can you cover the central higher midfield area supporting the 9 Can you cover the centre backs travelling with the ball and screen balls being played into their defensive midfielders. Can you step in & win the ball as it is played to their 6 or 8, or if not can you prevent them playing forward. 6/8- can you cover the central and wider midfield areas angled off your 10 and 7/11. Can you screen passes into their strikers Can you as much as possible stay behind the ball Can you prevent their 10 getting into free space behind or beside you. Coach’s Cues: 10- if 9 is beaten by c/back or by lateral passing can you step up and prevent ball being carried or passed forward. - As the ball travels to their 6 or 8 can you put immediate pressure on them and not allow them to face forward with the ball. 7/9/11- When ball is travelling across their backline make sure you move/slide as a unit to keep pressure on and prevent them having time/space to move or pass into midfield. If one of them has a bad touch or plays poor pass can you be alert and nick the ball. 10- if our 9 is dragged to one side and they play across him to other side can you quickly shut down opponent in possession and prevent them travelling/passing forward or do so under pressure. 9- if above happens can you drop quickly into 10’s position 9- When 3 or 4 receive pass from GK can you make a run firstly to discourage them from playing straight back to GK and secondly to press them from inside to move toward sideline and not carry ball directly forward. Game Training continued- Comments: If we have scouted opposition we may know that 1 centre-back is more comfortable playing out or they may have a right- footed number 4. Can we encourage them to play to their weaker side by giving more space on that side at restart. If one of their midfielders tends to drop off to pick up the ball he may be best opponent to try and win ball from, or if one midfielder is very good we may want to encourage them to play to opposite side.

Training Game Organization: 16 players – BP back 5 + mid 3 & 9 playing out V BPO front 3 + mid 3 & CD. Large goal + portable 8x5 Sap goal. Bibs, Balls Explanation/Progression: Same format as Game Training with BP team playing out to 8x5 SAP goal, BP can play direct to their 9 if able, but not direct from GK. Restarts from GK Assist Coach can restart randomly when ball goes dead to keep momentum & encourage transitions.