Session #13: Tactical Habits – Opposite-Actions And Defending In Midfield

pdf of Session #13: U13-U18 Train To Train / Train To Compete Session#13

Open Up FOOTWORK

Four players per triangle.
1. Two players on a single cone start with the ball.
2. Player passes to their right with their right foot. This player then follows their pass to the next cone.
3. Receiving player starts ‘around the corner’ then with their movement lets the ball run across their body to their right foot – ‘Opening Up’.

Keys:
– Player Passing The Ball: Remain balanced and step backwards after the pass. Tell the receiver to “Open Up” as soon as it leaves their shoe.
– Player Receiving The Ball: FOOTWORK from around the cones is a forward step and then turn your hips (allows faster movement and more ground to be covered). Let the ball run across their body. Hop backwards as they receive the ball so they are ‘in the air on their first touch’.
– All players should receive and pass with the same foot.

4v4 Directional 1

Play to either end player and then ‘Flatten Out’ as that player will return the ball to the same team with one touch.

*** IF THE PLAYER WHO HAS FLATTENED OUT IS DEFENDED, THEN CAN THEY ‘GET OUT’ AND ANOTHER PLAYER FILL THE SPACE.

4v4 Directional 2

– If play to the player on the end that has the opposite colour, that end player has one touch to return the ball to the team that played them the pass.
– If play to the player on the end that is on the same team, then that player dribbles into the game and the player that passed the ball to the end, now becomes the new end player.

*** IF THE PLAYER WHO HAS FLATTENED OUT IS DEFENDED, THEN CAN THEY ‘GET OUT’ AND ANOTHER PLAYER FILL THE SPACE.

4v4 Directional 3

SET UP & FOCUS:
– USING MF DEFENDING TO TEACH PRINCIPLES. – 4v4 in middle with 6 outside players. Players on the outside represent FBs on the sides (two touch) and two players on either end (one touch if possible) representing STRs/CBs.
– FBs can only play in the defending 1/2 of the field.
– Possession determined when ball goes to an end …. when ball goes to one end, those players are now the CBs and the team attempts to attack the other end (the other two STRs).

ATTACKING:
1. Opposite-actions between MF and FB.
2. Must attempt to go through the opponent and not around. If go over then end players have ONE TOUCH.

DEFENDING:
1. 1st Defender: Closest player close down (DENY a ball forward, DELAY their forward progress, DEFLECT them one side or the other.
2. 2nd Defenders: COVER first while keeping your player in vision (see ball and see player without turning head).
3. 3rd Defenders: BALANCE.

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4V4 WITH END PLAYER/TEAM ON EACH SIDE

4v4 SHAPE DEFENDING

– Open Touches but Play Fast (2 max on outside)
– One touch PLATFORMS always available – OPENING UP and playing forward
– PLAYERS CAN RELEASE