Purpose: |
This session will teach the players how to incorporate the
concepts of pressure cover and balance into the play of the fullbacks. As
the work of the back line is important for any team looking to be successful
this session is essential to team success. When they finish they will understand
how to work together to simultaneously cover their teammates as well as mark
a player by playing zonal defense learning when to be flat and when to be
on a diagonal. |
Equipment: |
Cones, pinnies, balls, small goal, large goal. |
Progression: |
Unrestricted:
Pressure/Cover/Balance cones is a no pressure activity where the players learn
how to make curved runs as a unit while communicating and forcing the play
In a deliberate direction
Restricted:
The session moves to 4 v 4 with out targets as one group moves the ball in a
straight line, while the rest of the team curves runs to adjust to the movement
of the ball continually forcing the ball back where it came from into a compact
defense
One goal with counters:
The game moves to five versus four with the defenders working together as a zonal
three or zonal four to pressure the ball as a unit. It progress to five versus
six as the five learn to work together to force one direction and the learn
to counter attack
Two goals:
The session ends six v six with players working together as attacking and defending
units as they learn to play in defensive blocks. |
Coaching
Points: |
- First pressure, second be in help position, 3rd/4th-proper spacing and
body position-on angles and can’t be split by a pass or dribble
- Make curving
runs into cover to eliminate penetrating pass thru the seams.
- For balance
defender “see ball and see man”.
- Body position (hips, head, feet,
toes) “are you ready to tackle or
step and win the ball?”
- Distance between pressure and cover– is
it correct?
- Outside players tucked in?
- Ready to step and win ball?
- Communicate to other defenders
- Slide and shift together: be organized
- Be compact and concentrated
- K- be involved, you’re a defender
- Moving before ball is received, immediately
after the pass?
- Read the ball, adjust the runs, watch for flat, watch body
position, watch over commitment with feet on the ball and position
off it“
- Can you work together shifting in pressure/cover/balance?”
- See the unbalancing runs – “do you need to track?”
- Don’t
let attackers slip behind the defense
- Understand overaggressive mistakes as
opposed to stepping, tackling and winning at the proper time
|
Activity |
Setup |
Pressure/Cover/Balance Cones
- Introduce roles of pressure/cover/balance for four defenders playing in blocks.
- Players form lines on each cone. In the diagram lines would be at the bottom.
 = “ball”- - Each red disk indicate new runs.
- Players make defensive runs to the cones where the "ball" is. On "GO" they
move to the next cone as if the ball was moving in that direction.
- As “ball” moves
defenders move into pressure/cover/balance off the "ball"
- Group players into groups of three or four depending on system of play
Coaching Points:
- First pressure, second be in help position, 3rd/4th-proper spacing and
body position-on angles and can’t be split by a pass or dribble
- Make curving
runs into cover to eliminate penetrating pass thru the seams.
- For balance
defender “see ball and see man”.
- Body position (hips, head, feet,
toes) “are you ready to tackle or
step and win the ball?”
| 
Dashed lines indicate defenders form lines or pressure cover “V’s” when
space properly |
| |
4v4 on cones
- X-passing O-defending. (then switch)
- Allow only one pass at a time.
- Work with “D” into position
of p/c/b.
- As ball moves the defenders
curve runs into pressure and cover and balance continually shifting.
- Change
numbers based on system.
- Progress to four v four to targets. Targets can
and should move
- Optional: (End with 8 v 8 with two blocks. Targets on each
end. (middle targets step out))
Progress to:
Skipping players in
line is allowed such.
Progress to:
One ball, two lines of attackers. As the ball moves, one block is
defending on the ball in P/C/B while the second block is setting up P/C/B off
the player nearest the ball in their line.
Coaching Points:
- Read the ball, adjust the runs, watch for flat, watch body position, watch
over commitment with feet on the ball and position off it.
|
Shown here is appropriate for a four back system. If playing with three use
three defenders, instead of four. |
| |
6v 6 in half field
- Play six versus six in a half field.
- Both teams should play a 4-2 or a 3-1-2.
- Emphasis on defense
Coaching Points:
- Distance between pressure and cover– is
it correct?
- Outside players tucked in?
- Ready to step and win ball?
- Communicate to other defenders
- Slide and shift together: be organized
- Be compact and concentrated
- K- be involved, you’re a defender
- Moving before ball is received,
immediately after the pass?
|
Blue finds the forward, the others support and attack
The red forward curves a run forcing the play to the right essentially eliminating
two blue players from receiving.
The central fullback step to the forward as the ball arrives, the others
drop into pressure cover balance both covering and marking other players
|
| |
4v4 or 5v5 in a 40x30
- Play to large goals
- Just play with emphasis on the player with the ball
Coaching Points
- “Can you work together shifting and sliding in pressure/cover/balance?”
- See the unbalancing runs – “do you need to track?”
- Don’t let attackers slip behind the defense
- Understand overaggressive mistakes as opposed to stepping, tackling and
winning at the proper time
|
 |
Follow