Euro 2016: Coach A Team To Beat A Low Defensive Block
Written by The Coaching Manual Jun 24th, 2016
A key trend in the Euro 2016 tournament has seen teams set up with a low defensive block to stifle opposition teams and restrict opportunities at goal. Here we highlight strategies to coach a team to beat a low defensive block.
The following components do not have to be delivered within a single session, yet highlight strategies to equip your players when coming up against a low defensive block.
Session Aim:
Players to understand strategies to beat the low defensive block
Session Objectives:
Players to understand position specific roles & decision making to beat the block including;
1) Playing across the block
2) Playing around the block
3) Playing into/through the block
4) Playing over the block
5) Aware of threat from counter attack if play breaks down & ability to delay opposition attack & get defensive shape
PLAYING ACROSS THE BLOCK
Possible Start Points:
1.Target player (T) plays ball to left full back (B3) who plays forward to left midfielder (B11).
2. Open play
Strategy:
Left midfielder (B11) retains possession as low block shifts across, then passes ball quickly inside to one of the central midfielders (B8 or B4), who take up positions offering depth & close distances to play across pitch & exploit space on the 'weak' side.If central midfielders cannot play through, the ball is passed to right midfielder (B7) on 'weak' side. B7 delivers a cross behind defensive block or plays to right full back (B2), who provides an overload on weak side through overlap/underlap run, to deliver.
Strikers (B9 & B10) make co-ordinated movements & create space to play through the block or in behind the block, as the ball is delivered from B7 or B2.
Coaching Points:
Positioning, team shape & depth to play across the blockSpeed of passes
Targets for passes
Awareness (can we play through or in behind early)
Receiving skills
Movements off the ball (overlap/underlap/ support/cover)
PLAYING AROUND THE BLOCK
Possible Start Points:
1.Target player (T) plays ball to left full back (B3) who plays forward to left midfielder (B11).
2. Open play
Strategy:
Left full back (B3) passes ball quickly to let midfielder (B11) then makes overlapping/underlapping run. B11 passes ball to B3 in a position to deliver in behind the defensive block.Strikers (B9 & B10) again make co-ordinated movements to receive in behind the defensive block to finish on goal. The left midfielder (B11) may have to combine with a striker (B9), who then plays in the left back around the block.
Right midfielder (B7) makes a movement inside to attack back post area behind the defensive block.
Coaching Points:
Overlaps/underlaps to cut across defenders & shorten service into the boxMethods to release overlapping player (direct pass/combine/disguise/reverse pass)
Awareness (can we play through or in behind early)
Movements beyond player on the ball
Movements to offer cover & support
PLAYING INTO/THROUGH THE BLOCK
Possible Start Points:
1.Target player (T) plays ball to centre back (B5) who plays forward to central midfielder (B8).
2. Open play
Strategy:
Central midfielder (B8) receives ball & plays a fast delivery to feet of striker (B9) as B9 makes a movement to check & receive in space between defensive units (ideally Zone 14 area).If striker can turn, then shoots or if needs options then strike partner (B10) spins off to receive in behind defensive block or follow up shot.
Left midfielder (B11) makes an inside run to receive in behind or combine. As ball is played forwards by B8, the other central midfielder (B4) makes a forward run for set back to receive. Right midfielder (B7) makes movement inside & to offer balance & cover against the counter attack if B11 advances.
Coaching Points:
Quick delivery to feetMovement to lose markers & receive
Disguise of the pass
Options to combine or receive to finish
Movements to support & cover
PLAYING OVER THE BLOCK
Possible Start Points:
1.Target player (T) plays ball to central midfielder (B8) who moves into a wide position.
2. Open play
Strategy:
Central midfielder (B8) moves wide to receive & create angle to goal. B8 delivers angled pass in behind defensive block as striker (B10) makes a movement to check & receive in behind defensive block and strike partner (B9) spins off to receive knock down in behind the defensive block.Left midfielder (B11) makes initial run wide to shift across the block then makes inside run to edge of penalty area. Central midfielder (B4) makes a forward run for 2nd ball on edge of area & protect against the counter attack. Right midfielder (B7) makes a movement inside & to receive ball behind defensive block at the far post.
Left back (B3) initially moves wide to shift defensive block or be an option out wide. B3 then moves inside when ball is played forwards to offer balance & cover against counter attack. Right back (B2) moves inside to be a passing option across the block & to offer support & cover if ball is switched towards B7 at the back post.
Coaching Points:
Create angle to goal (no straight passes)Quality passes need quality runs!
Positioning of back line
Positioning of opposition GK
Quality of delivery
Attack space in behind
Movements to get across marker & receive in behind
Movements to support & cover
Written by The Coaching Manual Jun 24th, 2016
A key trend in the Euro 2016 tournament has seen teams set up with a low defensive block to stifle opposition teams and restrict opportunities at goal. Here we highlight strategies to coach a team to beat a low defensive block.
The following components do not have to be delivered within a single session, yet highlight strategies to equip your players when coming up against a low defensive block.
Session Aim:
Players to understand strategies to beat the low defensive block
Session Objectives:
Players to understand position specific roles & decision making to beat the block including;
1) Playing across the block
2) Playing around the block
3) Playing into/through the block
4) Playing over the block
5) Aware of threat from counter attack if play breaks down & ability to delay opposition attack & get defensive shape
PLAYING ACROSS THE BLOCK
Possible Start Points:
1.Target player (T) plays ball to left full back (B3) who plays forward to left midfielder (B11).
2. Open play
Strategy:
Left midfielder (B11) retains possession as low block shifts across, then passes ball quickly inside to one of the central midfielders (B8 or B4), who take up positions offering depth & close distances to play across pitch & exploit space on the 'weak' side.If central midfielders cannot play through, the ball is passed to right midfielder (B7) on 'weak' side. B7 delivers a cross behind defensive block or plays to right full back (B2), who provides an overload on weak side through overlap/underlap run, to deliver.
Strikers (B9 & B10) make co-ordinated movements & create space to play through the block or in behind the block, as the ball is delivered from B7 or B2.
Coaching Points:
Positioning, team shape & depth to play across the blockSpeed of passes
Targets for passes
Awareness (can we play through or in behind early)
Receiving skills
Movements off the ball (overlap/underlap/ support/cover)
PLAYING AROUND THE BLOCK
Possible Start Points:
1.Target player (T) plays ball to left full back (B3) who plays forward to left midfielder (B11).
2. Open play
Strategy:
Left full back (B3) passes ball quickly to let midfielder (B11) then makes overlapping/underlapping run. B11 passes ball to B3 in a position to deliver in behind the defensive block.Strikers (B9 & B10) again make co-ordinated movements to receive in behind the defensive block to finish on goal. The left midfielder (B11) may have to combine with a striker (B9), who then plays in the left back around the block.
Right midfielder (B7) makes a movement inside to attack back post area behind the defensive block.
Coaching Points:
Overlaps/underlaps to cut across defenders & shorten service into the boxMethods to release overlapping player (direct pass/combine/disguise/reverse pass)
Awareness (can we play through or in behind early)
Movements beyond player on the ball
Movements to offer cover & support
PLAYING INTO/THROUGH THE BLOCK
Possible Start Points:
1.Target player (T) plays ball to centre back (B5) who plays forward to central midfielder (B8).
2. Open play
Strategy:
Central midfielder (B8) receives ball & plays a fast delivery to feet of striker (B9) as B9 makes a movement to check & receive in space between defensive units (ideally Zone 14 area).If striker can turn, then shoots or if needs options then strike partner (B10) spins off to receive in behind defensive block or follow up shot.
Left midfielder (B11) makes an inside run to receive in behind or combine. As ball is played forwards by B8, the other central midfielder (B4) makes a forward run for set back to receive. Right midfielder (B7) makes movement inside & to offer balance & cover against the counter attack if B11 advances.
Coaching Points:
Quick delivery to feetMovement to lose markers & receive
Disguise of the pass
Options to combine or receive to finish
Movements to support & cover
PLAYING OVER THE BLOCK
Possible Start Points:
1.Target player (T) plays ball to central midfielder (B8) who moves into a wide position.
2. Open play
Strategy:
Central midfielder (B8) moves wide to receive & create angle to goal. B8 delivers angled pass in behind defensive block as striker (B10) makes a movement to check & receive in behind defensive block and strike partner (B9) spins off to receive knock down in behind the defensive block.Left midfielder (B11) makes initial run wide to shift across the block then makes inside run to edge of penalty area. Central midfielder (B4) makes a forward run for 2nd ball on edge of area & protect against the counter attack. Right midfielder (B7) makes a movement inside & to receive ball behind defensive block at the far post.
Left back (B3) initially moves wide to shift defensive block or be an option out wide. B3 then moves inside when ball is played forwards to offer balance & cover against counter attack. Right back (B2) moves inside to be a passing option across the block & to offer support & cover if ball is switched towards B7 at the back post.
Coaching Points:
Create angle to goal (no straight passes)Quality passes need quality runs!
Positioning of back line
Positioning of opposition GK
Quality of delivery
Attack space in behind
Movements to get across marker & receive in behind
Movements to support & cover
