1. Ball possession Opponent: Limit Goal scoring opportunities SESSION PLAN PRESENTATION

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Defending Core Skills: -Pressing -Marking -Intercepting -Tackling -Positioning -Communication

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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 passes- every 2 nd 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. Repetitions of 1 st touch, handling speed, passing speed & accuracy, with positioning to play forward in tight area

8. 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 outside the scoring zone can you quickly swap roles as 1 st defender, 2 nd 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.

9. 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.