UEFA ‘A’ Cour se M .F.A.

Te ch n ica l Ce n t r e , Ta ’ Qali
Aim of Se ssion : Defending in Midfield - Pa ul Buge j a
Tot a l Session Tim e : 90m ins
Equipm e nt : balls, bibs, cones, m arkers & poles
M e t hodology : sim ple to com plex
Training session based on form at ions 1 4 3 3 vs 1 4 3 3
Coa ching Points
Se ssion is base d on the de fe nding in m idfie ld co- oper a t ion be t w ee n m idfie lde rs & for w a rds
I nsight
• choices and awareness
Coa ching Out com es
• m ark , cover , press
1. I ndividual pressure– player closest t o ball t o press im m ediately and t ry t o win ball
W it hout ba ll
2. Collect ive pressure - quick shift ing m ovem ent to provide cover for t he pressing player
decision m aking (press / tackle / delay)
3. Mark- Cover- Delay
co- operat ion bet ween m idfield & forwards
4. Com pactness in m idfield unit
com m unicat ion
5. Co- operat ion bet ween m idfielders & forwards
awareness
6. General Com m unicat ion and com m unicat ion bet ween t he lines
W it h ba ll
7. Create num erical advant age - force play t o where we are m ost covered
play forward
8. Prevent players from receiving ball between the lines.
counter at t ack
9. Think about going forward when we win ball

W a r m - up including m obility e x e r cises & dyna m ic st r e t ching Globa l # 1 Ar e a :- 7 0 m x 4 0 m split in 3 z ones Pla y er s:- 1 8 Tim e : 1 0 m ins
Ar e a : 3 0 m x 3 0 m ( x 2 ) Pla ye rs: 2 groups of 9 Tim e : 2 0 m ins Co- oper a t ion in ce ntr a l pa r t Coa ching Outcom e s:- a ll
Coa ching Out com e s :- 1 ,2 ,3 ,4 ,6 I nit ially 3 v 3 in cent ral zone wit h 2 v 3 in end zones - Scor e by st opping ba ll on Endline
1 of t he 3 st r ik er s can drop in m idfield zone t o form a 4 v 4 in ce ntr a l z one
Play St art s from WHI TE m idfield
Focus on REDS prevent ing forward passes from m idfield. St rikers t o help m idfielders
D e fending in M idfie ld -
WHI TE m ust play ball int o t he
m iddle player between the
cones ( cent ral diam ond) to score
Obj e ct iv e s for 3 play e rs
inside
Must ensure that no balls are
played between them t o
cent ral diam ond
.

Ana ly t ic# 1 pre v ent pe ne t r a t ing passes Ar e a :1 8 m x 3 0 m

Pla y er s:8 Tim e : 5 m ins Coa ching Out com es:- 1 ,2 ,3 ,4 ,5 ,9

Se t up: 3vs3 in cent ral court wit h 1 target player on each side.
No high balls. Ball t o WHI TES.
Focus RED team block any penet rat ing passes t o
opponent WHI TE target player.
I f defending m idfielders win t he ball - pass it t o t arget
1
 Ana ly t ic# 2 Ar e a inside :1 8 m x 3 0 m Play e rs:1 2 Tim e : 1 2 m ins Ana ly t ic# 3 Ar e a : 6 0 m x 4 0 m Play e rs:1 2 Tim e: 1 5 m ins
Coa ching Out com e s :- 1 ,2 ,3 ,4 ,5 ,6 ,7 ,9 co- oper a t ion in m idfie ld Coa ching Out com e s :- a ll
Se t up: 6 v 7 + Gk in m idfie ld
Sa m e se t up- add t w o 1 v1 pla y ers on e a ch side
Flank players to support t he m idfield.
Co- operat ion bet ween m idfielders & forwards
Deny opponent s from get t ing t hrough t he t hree penetrat ing channel gates.
Focus st ill on 3 m idfielde rs t rying t o st op t he penet rat ing
RED t eam has t o read t he sit uat ion bet ween open play ( drop) and close play (press).
forward pass to t arget player
Pr ogr ession # 1 target player can get inside t o help in
m idfield to win ball.
Must be quick t o get back in posit ion t o receive ball once it
is in possession of his t eam

Globa l# 2 : Ar e a : 7 0 m x 4 0 m Play e rs:1 8 8 v 8 + Gk s Tim e : 2 0 m ins

Co- oper a t ion be tw e e n st r ik er s a nd m idfie lde rs Coa ching Out com e s :- a ll

Te a m s pla y 1 - 2 - 3 - 3 V 1 - 4 - 3 - 1
Obj e ct iv e RED S: I m prov e defe nding in m idfie ld
Ball st arts from WHI TE goalkeeper
1 - 4 - 3 - 3 defending principles using m idfielders 4 , 8 , 1 0 and forwards 9 - 7 and 1 1
who m ust press, delay or drop back, support and creat e overload in m idfield.

Coa ching out com es hav e t o be a chie ve d

Cooling D ow n:
5 m ins slow e asy j og + 3 m ins dy nam ic a nd st a tic st r e t ching.

Se ssion Ev a lua t ion :

N ot e : This se ssion is base d on the de fe nding in m idfie ld co- oper a t ion be t w e e n m idfie lde rs & forw a r ds.
N e x t session w ill be ba sed on t he co- ope r a t ion be t w e en de fe nde rs and m idfielders. 2
I n a ll a bov e e x e r cises - play e rs not used w her e w it h assist a nt coa ch doing ot her spe cific e x e r cise s w hile GKs w he r e w it h goa lk e eper ’s coa ch