DEFENDING
THE BOX
AG E P H AS E : U 1 7 +
SESSION PLAN
SESSION OVERVIEW DEFENDING THE BOX
LEVEL KEY
• U17-First team Ball movement
Player movement
PRINCIPLES OF PLAY without the ball
• Defensive organisation Player movement
• Near, middle, far and penalty spot with the ball
• Clearances towards sidelines
• Defending second balls
PART 1: Players
4+GK VS 5 TACTICAL SITUATION GAME
• This 4+GK vs 5 tactical situation game begins to teach Cones
principles related to defending the box.
• The practice requires a group of 10 players, with one
Flat marker
team of four players and a goalkeeper set up against
a second team of five outfield players.
Cones with
PART 2: flat marker
5+GK VS 5+GK +1 CONDITIONED GAME
• This practice builds upon Part 1, applying the concepts Goal
to more regular game situations.
• The practice requires a group of 13 players split into
two teams of six – both of which include a goalkeeper – Mini-goal
and one neutral player.
Mannequin Pole
Football
AGE PHASE: U17+
4+GK VS 5 TACTICAL SITUATION GAME DEFENDING THE BOX
FUNCTION
• In this 4+GK vs 5 tactical situation they can quickly score in the mini-
game, the defensive team – here, goal behind Zone 1.
Team A – will have a defensive • Once the winger receives the ball
midfielder (6), two centre-backs in front of the mannequin, they
(4/5) and a goalkeeper who remain have 5 seconds to cross the ball
constant. The full-backs (2/3) will into the box.
alternate. • Team B will have one midfielder,
• The team in possession – here, the far-side winger and the forward
Team B – will have two attacking attack Zone 3; the other midfielder
midfielders (8/10), two wingers should be in Zone 2 for rebounds.
(7/11), and a forward (9). • Team A will have the two centre-
• Team A can score by: 1) Recovering backs, the far-side full-back and
the ball in Zone 1 and scoring in the the defensive midfielder all defend
mini-goal = 1 goal. 2) Clearing the the box in Zone 3.
ball directly out of Zone 2 or • Team A’s objective is to execute
Zone 3 on the first cross for a a clearance into one of the two
point; 3 points = 1 goal. 3) Clearing mini-goals in wide areas. 10
8 Zone 1
the first ball directly into one of • After the initial cross from Team B,
two wide mini-goals = 3 goals. the ball will be live in Zones 2 and 3
• Team B can score by: 1) Scoring for 6 seconds, as long as the ball 6
directly off the first cross within is in bounds. Once a goal is scored
two touches = 3 goals. 2) Scoring or the ball goes out of bounds, a
off a rebound within 5 seconds = new sequence will begin in Zone 1, Zone 2
11
7
1 goal. alternating to the opposite side.
• The exercise will begin in a 2v1 • In this case, the Team A full-backs 5 9 4 2
scenario for Team B in Zone 1, with will change – the 3 will replace
the objective of attacking down the 2, with Team B now advancing
the side with only the mannequin down the opposite side with the 11.
Zone 3
as pictured, with the 7. • The offside rule will be in effect.
• After 2 passes, the ball can exit
Zone 1 towards the winger in front
of the mannequin.
• If the defensive midfielder (6) on 3
Team A recovers the ball in Zone 1,
AGE PHASE: U17+
4+GK VS 5 TACTICAL SITUATION GAME DEFENDING THE BOX
COACHING DETAIL: CLEARANCES
OUT OF POSSESSION • When possible, clearances should be executed with
the inside part of the foot in order to make maximum
ESTABLISHING POSITION contact on the ball. Short strides and clean contact
• The defensive line and defensive midfielder must towards the sidelines are the priority.
quickly sprint to drop as the ball is travelling wide to • When clearing aerial passes, focus on using strong
the winger. headers over the first line of pressure, to allow the
• Utilising the mannequin as the first defender, the two defensive line to exit the penalty box.
centre-backs and full-back must remain synchronised
and positioned 6-8 yards deeper than the mannequin in DEFENDING SECOND BALLS
order to be ready to defend an early cross. • After first contact, remain organised to defend second
• The defensive midfielder must drop with the line, balls, preferably in a 3-1 shape. The defensive midfielder
maintaining a position of 6-8 yards in front of the two will preferably defend the second ball outside the
centre-backs. All four players must have a side-on body penalty area, to allow the centre-backs to maintain their
shape to see ball, teammates and opposition runners. positioning close to goal. Remain compact and focused
until possession is secured or the ball is out of bounds.
NEAR, MIDDLE, FAR AND PENALTY SPOT
• Once the winger in possession goes beyond the
mannequin with the ball, the three defenders will look COACHING DETAIL:
to organise their positioning. MANAGING THE OPPOSITION
• The first centre-back zonally defends the near-post
space (near); the second centre-back man-marks the • Use patient possession in Zone 1 to ensure a clean, firm
forward (middle); and the weak-side full-back defends pass out wide to the winger.
the far post while being aware of the winger entering • Wingers should vary the type of cross into the box:
the box (far). early balls in behind, floated into the box, driven low
• The defensive midfielder marks the attacking midfielder and hard, cut-backs or whipped to the second post.
and should be aware of cut-back crosses in and around • Organise dynamic runs in the box, using feints and two
the penalty spot. movements to lose markers.
MAN-MARKING AND BODY POSITIONING
• Once inside the box, players must have an open body
shape to scan and identify dangerous runners. The
priority is man-marking the attackers while initiating
contact with the arms or shoulder to make runs
more difficult.
AGE PHASE: U17+
5+GK VS 5+GK +1 CONDITIONED GAME DEFENDING THE BOX
FUNCTION
• This 5+GK vs 5+GK +1 conditioned two touches after a cross from
game builds upon the previous Zone B = 2 goals; 3) Score directly
tactical situation game. off a cross from Zone B within two
• The out-of-possession team – here, touches = 3 goals; 4) A defending
Team A – will set up in a 1-4-1 shape. full-back recovering possession
• The team in possession – here, from a 2v1 underload in Zone B is
Team B – will set up in a 1-2-1-3 worth 1 point; 3 points = 1 goal.
formation. The 7 and 11 on Team B • The offside rule is in effect.
could also be a 2 and 3. • If a goal is scored, a new ball will
• The neutral player (C) will occupy restart with the team that scored.
the striker position for whichever • If the ball goes out of bounds,
team is in possession. a new ball will restart with the
• The game will have a natural flow opposite team, which then
to it, with both teams training the becomes the attacking team.
Zone A
same concepts.
• The main condition in the game is Zone B Zone B
that when the ball is in the central
Zone A, the defending team must
all be positioned in Zone A. 4
5
• Once the ball travels into either
Zone B, there will be a 2v1 overload
against the defending full-back 6
that will last for 6 seconds. 6
• If the attacking team is not able 7 11
to create a crossing situation
5 4 2
within 6 seconds, they can pass 3
the ball back into Zone A, where
a minimum of 2 passes must be
played before progressing back
into either Zone B for another
2v1 opportunity.
• There are multiple ways to score:
1) Score a regular goal = 1 goal;
2) Score off a second ball within
AGE PHASE: U17+
5+GK VS 5+GK +1 CONDITIONED GAME DEFENDING THE BOX
COACHING DETAIL: CLEARANCES
OUT OF POSSESSION • When possible, clearances should be executed with
the inside part of the foot in order to make maximum
ESTABLISHING POSITION contact on the ball. Short strides and clean contact
• The defensive line and defensive midfielder must towards the sidelines are the priority.
quickly sprint to drop as the ball is travelling out • When clearing aerial passes, focus on using strong
wide to the winger. headers over the first line of pressure to allow the
• Utilising the pressing full-back as the first defender, the defensive line to exit the penalty box.
two centre-backs and far-side full-back must remain
synchronised and positioned 6-8 yards deeper than the DEFENDING SECOND BALLS
full-back to be ready to defend an early cross. • After first contact, the defending team should remain
• The defensive midfielder must drop with the line, organised to defend second balls in a 1-4-1 shape. The
maintaining a position of 6-8 yards in front of the two defensive midfielder should defend second balls outside
centre-backs. All five players must have a side-on body the box to allow the centre-backs to stay close to goal.
shape to see ball, teammates and opposition runners. • The team should remain compact and focused until
possession is secured or the ball is out of bounds.
FIRST DEFENDER, NEAR, MIDDLE, FAR AND
PENALTY SPOT
• Once the winger in possession receives high and wide, COACHING DETAIL:
the ball-side full-back will apply pressure in the crossing DEFENSIVE TRANSITION
line and force wide, while the other three defenders
should look to organise their positioning. • The team losing possession should quickly reorganise
• The first centre-back zonally defends the near-post into the chosen defensive formation of 1-4-1.
space (near); the second centre-back man-marks the
striker (middle); the weak-side full-back defends the far
post while being aware of far-side winger entering the COACHING DETAIL:
box (far). MANAGING THE OPPOSITION
• The defensive midfielder marks the attacking midfielder
and should also be aware of cut-back crosses in and • Use patient possession and offensive transitions to
around the penalty spot. secure the ball and build attacks in a 1-2-1-3 formation.
• Wingers should provide width and depth while varying
MAN-MARKING AND BODY POSITIONING their types of crosses into the box: early balls in behind,
• Once inside the box, players must have an open body floated into the box, driven low and hard, cut-backs or
shape to scan and identify runners. The priority is man- whipped to the second post.
marking the attackers while initiating contact with the • Organise dynamic runs in the box, using feints and two
arms or shoulder to make runs more difficult. movements to lose markers.
AGE PHASE: U17+
