DEFENDING IN CENTRAL AREAS

SESSION TITLE: DEFENDING IN CENTRAL AREAS

OBJECTIVES

•  defending central areas of the pitch
• coaching defensive unit to narrow off and defend
• compactness in central areas

ORGANISATION

Pitch sectioned approx 44 x 65 yards as shown below
Teams play in a 9v7. Defending team play in a 1-4-2-1-1 while attacking team play in a 1-2-3-1.
Wide players are not involved the initial practice except for defending 3 and 2

INSTRUCTIONS
An appropriate start position is the defending No 6 attempts a pass to No 9 which is intercepted by attacking No 5.If ball goes out of play, we will restart the game from the end zone.
Defending team score by running ball across the line while the attacking team score in the main goal

KEY COACHING POINTS

• Switch on in negative transition
• Delay to allow teammates get behind the ball recovery
• Recovery runs to get goal side
• Back four narrow off and prepare to defend balls in behind
• Full backs narrow off to prevent penetrative runs and passes through gaps between them and the centre back
• Centre backs mark and track forwards in front of them
• Decide man marking and/or zonal marking? When? Where?
• Holding midfielders narrow off, slide and screen to prevent forwards receiving ball to feet
• Holding midfielders protect Zone 14
• No 10 drop in to offer defensive support but also in a position to receive a quick ball or get up to support lone forward in event of positive transition
• No 9 force play out wide or make play predictable to one side
• Players on toes ready to intercept
• Discuss when to press and when not to press
• Do the ostrich to check other defenders positions
• Communication among each other should be clear and specific – show inside, outside, delay, press etc
• Make play predictable
• Reinforce the principles of defending – delay, depth, compactness, cover/balance and control/restraint.

DIFFERENT SCENARIOS

• Horizontal and vertical compactness
• Stepping up following a negative pass
• Offside lines

PROGRESSION

Progress to Phase of Play  using the full width of the pitch and 2/3 length. Now the wide players initially excluded are involved.

ADDITIONAL COACHING POINTS

• Full backs initially tucked in so as to support centre back and also in a position to press opposition wide midfielder if/when they receive the ball
• Recovery run of wide midfielders to positions to support the holding midfielders