Football Association of Ireland

Attacking Defending

6 v 5 Underload Defending with Transition

A functional practice designed to improve players Defensive shape as a unit – Pressure, Cover and Balance with Transition.

Key objectives

Team Shape – narrow and compact – make it difficult to play through
Maintain shape and recognize when to press
Communication between Defensive units is key! – Goalkeeper role very important!
Limit space in between and behind the units
Opened body shape when Defending see ball and man
Look for pressing triggers, i.e. quality of pass, body shape of opponent, first touch
When ball is won, look to play forward as quickly as possible through quality passing or dribbling

Organisation

Area: 40 metres x 30 metres
5 Blue players v 6 Yellow players + Goalkeeper
Blue Team: Goalkeeper, Back 4 (RB, CB, CB & LB) and one Holding Midfielder
Yellow Team: Midfield 3, one Holding Midfielder (6) and 2 Advanced Midfielders (8 & 10) and Attacking 3(CF, WR & WL)
Yellow team start the practice with emphasis on creating goal scoring opportunities against the Blue team. Blue team look to maintain shape and balance throughout attempting to close space off through the middle.
If the Blue team win possession they must quickly Transition to Attack and attempt to score in either of the small goals with the Yellow team now Transitioning to Defend
If the ball goes out of play, game restarts with Yellow team

Session details

Attacking
Defending

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Session plan

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