Session: DT.002
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Exercise Objectives
- Coach a team on recovery runs to get behind the ball.
- Coach where to make recovery runs for various positions (In particular Midfield players).
- Coach delay in defense in football. Mark out 60x44 yrds. Use the edge of the football field penalty areas as a guide if available.
Organisation
Diagram 1. Set-Up Arrangement
Set-Up
- Mark out 60x44 yrds. Use the edge of the football field penalty areas as a guide if available.
- Split the playing area into 3rds (18,24,18 yrds deep). Footballs by the goals.
- 7vs7 on the field. 2GKS can be added also, or progressed to.
- Starting position: Ball should be played into the central area by the coach.
- Formations in 7vs7 should be 1-4-1. Both teams.
Instructions
- The coach initiates play at the beginning and when the football goes out of bounds by playing the ball into the central playing area (4vs4).
- 4vs4 commences in the central playing area. Both teams attempt to play the football into the Target Forward.
- Once the football is passed into the Target Player (i.e. Blue 7 in the Diagram above), an additional midfield player can step up to support into the final third.
- The defending team recognizes the supporting run and one defending player can recover into the final 3rd to help defend.
- Standard offside rules are applied once the football is played into the Target Player.
- Nobody can cross amy lines until the football is passed into the Target Player.
- If the defenders win the football they pass back into the central 3rd area and the game resumes.
Scoring
- 2 teams compete and attempt to score in the full size goals.
Coaching Points
- Recognition and awareness to identify when and where attacking supporting runs come from. Nearest player to the supporting player breaking forward should drop, recover and track this player goal side if possible.
- All players behind the pressing player should recovery immediately on loosing the football.
- Recovery/Tracking runs should be angled towards the defending teams own goal (defending triangle).
- Priority should be to get goal side of the ball and marks.
- Defenders should position themselves to be able to see the ball and their immediate opponent (mark).
- Prevent the ball being passed forward is the ultimate goal, players pressing don't have to win the ball.
- Discuss individual defending techniques, i.e. side on, get there fast arrive slow, don't over commit, on toes, focus on the football, goal side defending, stay on feet, etc.
- Communication - Tell team mates to track if they are in a position to do so and you are not.
Progressions
- Allow a secondary attacking player to enter the attacking area. As this occurs another defender is allowed to track this runner and retreat to help defend and cover.
Diagram 2. Progression 1 (Additional Supporting Runner)
Variations
- Instead of the coach re-feeding the ball into the central playing area the GKs can distribute the ball into the central playing area themselves.
- Instead of the coach re-feeding the ball into the central playing area the GKs can distribute the ball into their defending 3rd. Allow a midfield player to drop into the defending 3rd to assist in keeping possession (i.e. 2vs1).