Defending in the Attacking Third with three Forwards

Purpose:

The defensive game begins the minute the possession changes. As this often begins near the goal it is important to train the forwards in their role in defense. While the forwards main role is in the attack they are instrumental in defending. The forwards force the play in one direction and allow the rest of the team to organize defensively. The forwards need to take away passing lanes, work together and force the play in one direction, then the defense can work together in an organized manner.
Important note: This is game situation so if your system is a two forward system use only two forwards instead of the three shown and modify by adding an additional midfielder.

Equipment:

Cones, pinnies, balls.

Progression:

Unrestricted:
The warm up begins with quick touches on the ball working on turning moves, but quickly progresses to an easy exercise in making defensive runs. The focus is on the timing and the forced curved run as well as body position

Restricted: 
The game becomes a game of 8v3 which is very competitive and forces incredibly hard work on the defense. The whole point of this game is to reinforce the aggressive nature and hard work it takes to win on defense.

One goal with counters: 
This begins the stage of training in thirds. Starting with four defenders versus two forwards, the focus is on the role of the forwards while defending. The forwards will need to work together and force the play, looking for turnovers. The game advances until it becomes 5 versus 6 (three forwards/two midfielders v 4 defenders/2 midfielders). The focus is on the continual shift and movement of a team while on defense.

Two goals: 
The game becomes eight versus eight.. The focus remains defense in a larger game. The system should be a 3-2-3.

Coaching Points:

When coaching defense in thirds the focus is all about forcing the play in one direction and working together such that the opponent is always in a situation of taking on more than one defender.

Understand this is one smaller part of a larger defensive picture that is not all together yet. As the season (pre season preferably) progresses the whole picture will become clear

• All points of first second and third defenders apply
• The team should be working together in pressure cover balance, forcing the play and taking away passing lanes
• Are the forwards working hard and together?
• Are the midfielders shifting and sliding together?
• Are the runs curved? Are the cover runs curved taking away passing lanes?
• Is there communication?

Activity

Setup

Dribbling & passing while working on moves

• Play in a large grid
• Half with ball, half without. Passing and moving with and without the ball
• On each receptoin receive, knock down, take a few touches, decide how to turn
• Work on turning moves: Conti, Zico, Liparski, Beckinbaur

P/C/B Cones

Pressure/Cover/Balance cones are designed to teach players the movement of the defense without any pressure.

• Players form lines on the cones.
• They thenmove from cone to cone as if defending. Each cone represents a player with a ball. One player goes at a time makig a defensive curved run defending the "ball" which is the cone.
• Repeat, but second time through step as if to poke with front foot, then take a step back after arriving to give space and not get beat.
• Force Right at first cone, Force left at second cone

Progress to:

• Two a group. First is 1st defender, 2nd is second defender.
• First one in, curve.
• 2nd defender tells which way to go. “force Right” or “force left” 2nd defender 4 yds 45°
• Switch 1st and 2nd defender on way to 2nd cone

Progress to:

• Two a group, same as above.
• When you get to cone, on “switch” 2nd goes in and 1st backs off to cover.
• On “go” move to 2nd cone.
  

Coaching Points:

• Curve the run, sit down, keep feet moving
• Force the ball one direction, no lunging,
• Keep your center of gravity low
  

8 v 3 in a 45 x 60

This is a game for the defense. It is all about work rate. The attacking team should be moving and looking to possess but this game is all about defensive pressure and hard work.

• 8 players per team
• 30 minute game with each team on defense for fifteen
• 9 players in grid possess around 3 defenders at a time
• 8 passes is a point. If defense wins and possesses they get a point.
• Adjust passess accordingly based upon success, maybe 7 passes or 6 passes.
• IF the ball goes out or defense wins, three new defenders go in .

Coaching Points:

• Defense: work together
• "Are you using pressure/cover/balance?"
• Do not lunge!
• Work rate, work rate ,work rate!!

3 fwds v. 4 defenders
(3v4 in a 50x30)

The idea is to train the forwards to work together to force the play in one direction and when possible to step win, possess and look to score a quick counter attack goal. The game is played to a large goal in the attacking third, 30-40 yards long.

• 3 v. 4 with the three playing to large goal. The four are playing to small goals.
• 1 point for a small goal, 3 pts for a large goal.
  

Coaching Points:

• The Forwards should work together to pressure the defense away from the direction they are trying to score.
• Use curved runs to force the defense
• "It is not your job to win the ball, force play in one direction"
• No lunging!
• Fowards: work together
• One forward is always pressure, the other is always cover

1. The forwards work as pressure, cover, balance in an effort to force the defenders to play a ball back towards their own goal. They try to force the ball back into the middle of the field.

2. The ball works to the middle. The central forward steps closer and the outside two forwards drop behind to form a "V". Do not lunge and overcommit here; just force play in one direction.

3. The ball has worked across the field. The forwards are now forcing the play back towards the middle again. All roles have reversed. Do not lunge!, instead look to force play and stay behind the ball. Win when it is possible.

4v6

3f +acm v. 4 FB + 2 cm’s

• Central midfielder is added to the game.
• The role of the center midfielder is to work off the forwards taking their central midfielder out of the game while closing down passing lanes.
  As the forwards shift and slide, the central midfielder shifts and slides into the passing lanes marking the oppositions midfielder not taken out of play by the defensive runs of the forwards.
  

Coaching Points:

• The two forwards work as pressure cover.
• The attacking midfielder can join the forward block and pressure the fullbacks
• The midfielders, not joining the forward block balance the forwards, taking away passing lanes
• Forwards: do not over commit
• Communicate: tell each other what you are doing.

4. The three forwards are p/c/b. The central midfielder works to take away the pass to the checking midfielder.

5. The ball works to the middle and the three forwards work to the middle. It is important they don’t over commit and get eliminated from play. The center midfielder adjusts accordingly taking away the pass to their midfielder.

6. As the ball has worked across the field, the forwards have reversed roles. The midfielder is balance working with the forwards. If the forwards work quickly they can take away the outside pass and force the ball back inside. The dotted redline shows the diagonal formed by the midfielders and the forwards.

5v6 in a half field

3f +2cm’s v 4d +2cm’s

• The emphasis when adding the fifth defender is the work of the center midfielders off of each other.
• As one steps to the attacking center midfielder the other slides into cover while taking away the passing lanes.

Coaching Points:

• There are now two blocks; the forward block and the midfield block. They should work together
• Look to eliminate passing lanes, force play in one direction
• When the opportunity is there, be agressive, win the ball.
• As the ball moves, all players are moving and adjusting, no ball watching

7. Left center midfielder steps to take away first passing lane, right center midfielder balances taking away passing lanes and their second center midfielder

8. The ball moves to the middle. Their center mids move into seams. The center midfielders change role: balance steps to the first center midfielder, the second slides into a balance position

9. As the ball moves all the way left the center midfielders are again on diagonals working together taking away lanes.

8v8 to large goals

2 forwards+4 central midfielder’s +2 fullbacks v. 4fullbacks +4 central midfielder’s

• Play in half to three quarter field
• Play a 3-3-2 or a 3-2-3 working on all above points in a larger game like field