Dynamic defending - League Athletics
W E E K LY
Dynamic defending
PAR T
THR
Und
er-1 EE 2s
player movement pass A =pass attacker D = defender runmovement with ball player A = attacker D = defender run with ball
Part three continues the theme of turning good defence into immediate attack player movement In this part, we increase the number of defenders and attackers and learn the principle of ‘funneling’.
How to set it up: •
This time, we use nine players (three teams of three) in a 15x15-yard area.
Getting Started: •
This activity uses two different defensive strategies:
Dynamic defending ACTIVITY 1A FORCE CENTRAL ACTIVITY 1A FORCE CENTRAL
D1
A6
Developing the session:
•
2
Why this works: A 5v3 situation provides defenders with the opportunity to employ a variety of different defensive formations. And with dedication, time and repetition, players can begin to recognise when the right situation occurs to implement those strategies. For more information, visit: www.soccerpluscamps.com/services/development_stages
A3
A4
A4
The next defensive strategy, the cover, provides support if A2 is beaten the first defender
ACTIVITY 1B PRESSURE COVER
A1
D3
D1
A2
A6
ACTIVITY 1B PRESSURE COVER
D2
A1
A6
A3
D3
D1
A2
A3
D2 A5
A4
D3
D1
A6
A3
A4
A5D2
A4
A5
In the 5v3, defenders again revert to a triangular shape in pressuring the ball
3
There are no offsides.
When the ball is central, the defensive shape should be triangular. (pressure - cover). Defenders protect from attackers dribbling or playing penetrating passes. When the ball is wide in the midfield, the defensive shape is ‘diagonal’ – forcing the attackers to pass sideways or backwards. If the ball moves to the centre, the shape reverts to triangular.
D3
ACTIVITY 1B - pressure PRESSURE COVER A1
Attackers begin and move towards goal.
Key coaching points:
A4
A5
There are two additional defenders behind the goal.
If defenders win possession, they play back to their keeper or to a player behind the goal line – this allows the attacking team to transition to defence and two of the attacking players to leave the field. Both defenders now enter play to create a new 5v3 going back the other way.
D1
A3
D2
A5
A5
• Enlarging to a 60x44-yard area with a goal and keeper at both ends, play 5v3, emphasising midfield defending and counter-attacking. • • •
D3
A3
A2
D2 D3
D1
One team (three players) defends against the other two teams, using either the ‘trapping pockets’ or ‘pressure cover’ approach. The six attackers must keep possession through passing and/or dribbling.
The three defenders travel as the ball travels, so establishing pressure before or as the attacker receives. If they are in position too late, attackers can evade pressure easily. Communication is key – players should express urgency in what they say and how they say it, i.e. in their tone of voice.
D2
A1
A6
•
Key coaching points:
The outer defenders move A2 to force a pass through A2 the middle of the funnel
apart A1
ACTIVITY 1A A6 FORCE CENTRAL
1. Forcing attackers to play the ball centrally with the aim of creating ‘trapping pockets’. Here, two defenders try to funnel the attack to the third defender. They do this by quickly moving apart to eliminate wide options, forcing play centrally into the third player trap.
Switch teams after three minutes, and alter area size to vary difficulty.
A1
1
2. Using ‘pressure cover’ – the first defender applies pressure and the others offer cover so a pass or dribble cannot penetrate between them.
•
pass A = attacker D = defender
run with ball
ACTIVITY 2A TRIANGLE
ACTIVITY 2A TRIANGLE
A1
A2 A3
A2
ACTIVITY 2A - A3 TRIANGLE
D2
D1
D2
D2
D1
player movement run with ball
A4
D3
A1
A2 A3
D3
A1
D1
A4
A5
A5
A4
D3
A5
pass A = attacker D = defender
Soccer Coach Weekly 3
Dynamic defending
PAR T
THR
Und
er-1 EE 2s
player movement pass A =pass attacker D = defender runmovement with ball player A = attacker D = defender run with ball
Part three continues the theme of turning good defence into immediate attack player movement In this part, we increase the number of defenders and attackers and learn the principle of ‘funneling’.
How to set it up: •
This time, we use nine players (three teams of three) in a 15x15-yard area.
Getting Started: •
This activity uses two different defensive strategies:
Dynamic defending ACTIVITY 1A FORCE CENTRAL ACTIVITY 1A FORCE CENTRAL
D1
A6
Developing the session:
•
2
Why this works: A 5v3 situation provides defenders with the opportunity to employ a variety of different defensive formations. And with dedication, time and repetition, players can begin to recognise when the right situation occurs to implement those strategies. For more information, visit: www.soccerpluscamps.com/services/development_stages
A3
A4
A4
The next defensive strategy, the cover, provides support if A2 is beaten the first defender
ACTIVITY 1B PRESSURE COVER
A1
D3
D1
A2
A6
ACTIVITY 1B PRESSURE COVER
D2
A1
A6
A3
D3
D1
A2
A3
D2 A5
A4
D3
D1
A6
A3
A4
A5D2
A4
A5
In the 5v3, defenders again revert to a triangular shape in pressuring the ball
3
There are no offsides.
When the ball is central, the defensive shape should be triangular. (pressure - cover). Defenders protect from attackers dribbling or playing penetrating passes. When the ball is wide in the midfield, the defensive shape is ‘diagonal’ – forcing the attackers to pass sideways or backwards. If the ball moves to the centre, the shape reverts to triangular.
D3
ACTIVITY 1B - pressure PRESSURE COVER A1
Attackers begin and move towards goal.
Key coaching points:
A4
A5
There are two additional defenders behind the goal.
If defenders win possession, they play back to their keeper or to a player behind the goal line – this allows the attacking team to transition to defence and two of the attacking players to leave the field. Both defenders now enter play to create a new 5v3 going back the other way.
D1
A3
D2
A5
A5
• Enlarging to a 60x44-yard area with a goal and keeper at both ends, play 5v3, emphasising midfield defending and counter-attacking. • • •
D3
A3
A2
D2 D3
D1
One team (three players) defends against the other two teams, using either the ‘trapping pockets’ or ‘pressure cover’ approach. The six attackers must keep possession through passing and/or dribbling.
The three defenders travel as the ball travels, so establishing pressure before or as the attacker receives. If they are in position too late, attackers can evade pressure easily. Communication is key – players should express urgency in what they say and how they say it, i.e. in their tone of voice.
D2
A1
A6
•
Key coaching points:
The outer defenders move A2 to force a pass through A2 the middle of the funnel
apart A1
ACTIVITY 1A A6 FORCE CENTRAL
1. Forcing attackers to play the ball centrally with the aim of creating ‘trapping pockets’. Here, two defenders try to funnel the attack to the third defender. They do this by quickly moving apart to eliminate wide options, forcing play centrally into the third player trap.
Switch teams after three minutes, and alter area size to vary difficulty.
A1
1
2. Using ‘pressure cover’ – the first defender applies pressure and the others offer cover so a pass or dribble cannot penetrate between them.
•
pass A = attacker D = defender
run with ball
ACTIVITY 2A TRIANGLE
ACTIVITY 2A TRIANGLE
A1
A2 A3
A2
ACTIVITY 2A - A3 TRIANGLE
D2
D1
D2
D2
D1
player movement run with ball
A4
D3
A1
A2 A3
D3
A1
D1
A4
A5
A5
A4
D3
A5
pass A = attacker D = defender
Soccer Coach Weekly 3
