Players Roles and Responsibilities in the 4-4-2 - Defending

by Wayne Harrison;former Academy Director at Blackpool F.C. in the English Championship League;holds the prestigious UEFA "A" license, as well as a Bachelors degree in Applied Physiology and Sports PsychologyPlayers Roles and Responsibilities in the 4 - 4 - 2: Defending provides an in depth description of how to train your team to defend using this formation. The 4 - 4 - 2 is the most commonly used formation throughout the world. This book will help you teach your players to defend better individually and as a team.The book begins with sessions that train players to defend individually and then in groups. The sessions build from working with the defensive back four and progress through the midfielders and forwards. Once each group is addressed, sessions are introduced that train the groups to work together and defend as a unit. These practices lead to working in 11 v 11 scenarios to ensure that each player understands their responsibilities within the team.The sessions begin as unopposed exercises to allow you to focus on the key factors necessary for effective defending. As the players gain confidence opponents are added to increase the challenge. Functional training and phase of play exercises put the players in specific game situations so that they can practice their reaction to every circumstance they will face in the game. Many small-sided games are also included to allow the players see those situations in a game environment. This progressive training method will allow the players to take the principles they learn in practice and apply them on game day. 106 pages. 2009.