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Fullbacks (3):
1.
Shadow Play 0v3-8: Introduce
the fullbacks and then
the defensive/center midfielders (then both groups
together) to a pressing, zone defense
using flags and
different
colored penny's on the flags. Coach calls
out
which
color represents where the ball is at and
the
entire
defensive group moves accordingly.
Drill
teaches how the
closest defender
pressures the ball,
2nd defender supports and
the
rest cover.
Play is
stopped from time-to-time when
teaching moments
present themselves and to have
the
players look at
the field and learn to see the
defensive shape,
dangers, passing lanes etc. as
the
coach is seeing it.
Key concepts being stressed
are:
o Closest
defender pressures the ball.
Second
closest defender who is goal side
supports the
player pressuring (2nd defender). Rest of the
group covers obvious passing lanes and
opposing players in dangerous areas.
o Quick
adjustment of the group as the 'ball'
moves.
"Pressing"
style of play that compacts the
field and smothers passing lanes ("don't
guard
grass"
and always
"play with a purpose").
o Communication
between the players is also
emphasized such as
"switch"
(defensive players
temporarily switching zone responsibilities),
"I've
got ball"
and
"drop!"
(quickly move the fullback
line back).
2.
Cooperative to Competitive Play:
2-4v3-4, attackers vs. defender scrimmages,
7v5+k overload games, 5+2v2+K "Train the keeper"
mini-game:
Play a cooperative group of
attackers against the fullback line. Start play
at various places on the field (e.g. midfield,
defensive third, penalty area) to demonstrate
how the group's shape and play differs from area
to area.
Stop
the action several times to have the players
look around and learn to see and read the field.
"Where
is the danger?",
"where is the pass likely to go?"
As the fullbacks get better and their movement
becomes more instinctive allow the attackers to
become more competitive in their play. Key
concepts emphasized here are:
o
Positioning: "Inside, goal side":
we
never
want to let attackers get an inside position on
us. This gets even more important the closer we
get to our own goal. We always want to be
between the attacker and our own goal so we can
channel them toward the sideline and away from
our goal.
o Quickly
getting behind the ball: "Play
with urgency
before
it becomes an emergency". The importance of very
quickly getting into a support position and
never leaving a teammate who is pressuring the
ball to be without support behind them.
"No
one plays alone."
"Play
facing
the ball, not chasing the ball" plays into this
as well. If we're chasing the ball down the
field we are offering no cover or support. We
are merely escorting the ball down the field.
The only exception to this is if we're playing
an offside trap (a concept that isn't introduced
until later).
o Proper
positioning in relationship to the midfielders:
"Push
the line!" When our team wins the ball and
quickly pushes forward the fullbacks need to
quickly "push up" or "push the line"
(fullback
line) up to keep proper distance with the
midfielders. Sometimes referred to as "fill"
or "filling",
as in quickly fill the space between the
fullback line and the midfielders.
Quickly
pushing up the line opens up more passing
options for the attackers (e.g. drops) while
maintaining a good defensive shape if the ball
should be knocked away from one of our
attackers. The fullbacks stand a much
better chance of being "first to the ball" if
they aren't 30 yards away guarding blades of
grass (because no one from the other team is
anywhere near them).
Teach the defenders,
especially the center fullback(s) or sweeper if
you're playing with one, how to read
the field and analyze the situation and decide
who to push up to
assist with the midfielders and who to keep back
- and how far to keep them back.
o Defensive
shape in the defensive third: "Four
in the line" near our own goal. Even if we're
playing in a three fullback formation (e.g.
3-5-2, 3-4-3) we always insert a 4th
player into the fullback line in our defensive
third.
o Playing
defense in front of our own goal:
- "Guard the front door" - never as a
group
chase the ball out of the area and leave the
goal face unprotected. There should be two
defenders plus the keeper guarding the goal
at all times.
-
Very tight marking, "inside, goal side" near
our own goal ("indoor style").
- Extreme pressure on the ball,
double team
wherever possible. "No look, no shot"
is
the motto down here.
- Play physical without fouling,
play with your
feet (good positioning) not your hands. Use
drills to teach this (e.g. keep away from the
cone played without a ball where defenders
must shield off and channel attackers away
from a cone for 'x' period of time.)
- Defensive line stays very
tight with each
other near our own goal. No gaps in the line.
Don't chase marks out of the area.
- Play facing the ball and away from
your own
goal. Facing or angled toward your own goal
is the #1 reason own goals are scored.
- "When
in doubt, clear it out", this is
especially important in the penalty area.
There should be almost no passing in the
penalty area - clear it out. Emphasize the
importance of communication. Outside of the
penalty area, especially near midfield drill
the fullbacks over and over again on how to
handle pressure so they are confident to
make quick, safe "1-2" passing
combinations, running "through the ball"
and physically taking it out of the area and
physically shielding off of the ball if needed.
-
Shielding the keeper from attackers and how
to keep it legal (stay at least 3-5' from the
ball else it's obstruction).
-
Keeper calls the shots in the penalty area.
"Keeper!" means shield attackers off of the
keeper so they can play the ball.
-
Crossing balls: Make sure to play facing out
and away from
our own goal on crossing
balls. Tight
fullback line, no gaps and tight
marking of
onrushing attackers. Run "through
the ball" and physically take it out of the
area.
o Training
the keeper: 5+2v2+K "Train the keeper"
mini-game.
5-7 shooters on edge penalty area. 2 fullbacks
(center fullbacks or the center fullback and a
fullback wing) going against 2 attackers. Game
can be played using different start points and
themes but basically the attackers try to score
and the defenders and keeper work to keep them
out. Once ball is dead one of the outside
shooters gets a quick shot off on goal which the
keeper must save. Play then continues with
another ball played into the attackers.
o Clearing:
Work on when to clear ("when
in doubt, clear it out")
and how to clear. Work on communication between
the center fullback(s) or sweeper and the keeper
to help direct the fullbacks on when to clear
the ball
("cear!")
. Work
on leg strength and the ability to quickly snap
off a long clearing ball down the touchline if
under pressure (rather than just kicking the
ball out).
o Offside
Trap: Begin to introduce the concept of the
offside trap in some of the controlled
scrimmages and mini-games you run. For example
play a scrimmage and allow the fullbacks to do
offside traps past a certain area marked off by
cones. Make sure its clear who on the fullback
line (center fullback or sweeper) is going to be
calling for the offside trap, what code word the
group will use to signify that the play is on
and what the rest of the fullbacks need to do
the moment they hear that code word. On our team
we teach them to quickly rush up to or slightly
past our center fullback (or sweeper) with the
closest defenders double teaming the ball. We
want the ball under tremendous pressure else we
leave ourselves open to a chip pass over the
pushed up fullback line.
"Push up (quickly!) and press hard"
is the key word for our group when a offside
trap is called.
3. Skills
that are critical for Fullbacks:
0v1 drills, 1+1 partner work, 1v1-2 cooperative
and competitive drills:
o Playing
through balls: Make sure the fullbacks are
comfortable quickly turning the ball around at
speed and under pressure.
Toe stops (at speed),
cuts/hooks and drag-pull-backs (lower speed) are
all important dribble moves to master. Emphasize
quick 1-2 passing combinations to work the ball
quickly and safely out of the back (see
"Transition").
o Flighted
balls: Work
on handling flighted balls and taking them with
their chest (the preferred way to drop the
ball), thigh and inside of foot.
o Headers: Introduce
clearing headers. Drills emphasize the ability
to clear the ball for long distances. This is
especially important in the penalty area. Get
the players comfortable going up for and winning
balls when they are on the opponents back side.
Talk about not climbing over their back but
positioning them and out jumping them to the
ball. Get the fullbacks and midfielders used to
cleaning up balls that ricochets off of
opponents from long clearing punts, goal kicks
etc. coming out of our own goal area.
o Volleys: Introduce
clearing volleys
Midfielders (3):
1.
Shadow Play 0v3-8: Introduce
the midfielders to their zone defensive
responsibilities.
5. Positional
Group Play - Midfielders:
0v3-4, 2v3-4, 3v3, 4v3, 4v4
o d
o d
o d
o d
o d
o d
o d
6. Positional
Group Play -
Forwards:
0v2-3, 2v2-3, 3v2-3, 4v2-3.
o d
o d
o d
-
- d.
- d.
Teaching
Progression (11):
1.
2v2 pressure-support:
Cooperative then competitive. Pressure-support,
pressuring the ball, no one plays alone, playing
with urgency, communication, staying together.
2.
2v2 mini-tournaments.
3.
3v2 and 2+2v2: Same themes in overload
game conditions.
4.
2v2 channeling.
5.
1v2 through balls.
6.
3v3 pressure-support-cover:
Cooperative
then competitive. Same themes as 2v2 but
introduce the cover responsibilities. Touch on
the differences between midfield and forwards
covering versus fullbacks.
7.
3v3:
With and
without keeper scrimmages.
8.
1v2 to 2v3 controlled transition games.
9.
3v2+k to 4v3+k: Starting to move into
positional group skills with a special emphasis
on the fullbacks.
10. 3v3 to 4v4
midfielder "fish bowl" games.
11.
1-3N+3v3 to 4v4 midfielder overload games.
12.
4N+4v4 overload games.
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