Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PSV Academy Sessions
PSV Academy Sessions
TRAINING SESSIONS.
GED SEARSON.
This was a Warm-up game to get the players moving and get the heart rate up.
The players were put into two teams of seven with one 'floater' who played with the
team in possession of the ball.
The players were not allowed to run with the ball, but they were allowed to turn
around on the spot with the ball.
COACHING POINTS - The game was all about retaining possession of the ball,
with the players moving the ball quickly and creating good receiving angles, and
getting the players into the pass and move action.
DEVELOPMENT - Players were not allowed to dwell on the ball once they had
caught the ball, the players had to throw the ball the second they caught the ball, as if
they were playing one touch passing football.
COACHING POINT - As the players could not catch the ball and turn with the ball,
looking for a team-mate to throw the ball to, the players had to have 'awareness'. The
players had to receive the ball with an open body, and play the way they were facing.
The players had to know where they were going to throw the ball before they received
the ball.
Players (A) at station 1A passes to player (B) at station 2. (B) plays the ball
backwards to player (C), player (C) plays a diagonal ball to (D) at station 4. (D)
receives the ball half turned and shoots at goal. Every player follows his pass and
joins the next station. Player (D) joins station 1 at group 2.
COACHING POINT (B)'s one-touch pass to player (C) must be a light lay-off, so
(C) must come to receive the ball and play a first time diagonal pass to player (D).
DEVELOPMENT - Player (B) at station 2 must check away before playing the onetouch pass to player (C) at station 3.
DEVELOPMENT - An extra station is added with another player, player (E). Same
build up play as before, but (D) must play a one-touch lay-off for (E) to shot at goal.
(D) rotates to station 5.
THROW HEADER CATCH This is where the ball must be headed onto the next
player after every throw. (A) throws the ball to (B), (B) would have to pass the ball
back to (A) or to another player to catch by Heading the ball to them. The opponents
must try to intercept these passes with their hands.
This was proceeded by 7 v 1 or similar one-touch 'Keep ball' in a circle. All age
groups would have their own slight variation of this keep ball theme, most likely with
each coach deciding the variation.
This was followed by even numbered 'keep ball' games (7 v 7, 8 v 8) where players
had to play the ball to servers / goalkeepers at the ends of the area.
Teams score by getting the ball from one server at one end to the other server at the
opposite end.
COACHING POINT Possession of the ball was key. If the ball could not be
passed forward, the ball could be played sideways, if the ball could not be played
sideways, the ball could be played back, even to the server or the goalkeeper.
COACHING POINT The players movement was excellent, every player was on
the move. No player had to battle for a 50/50 ball, all players created space to receive
the ball by checking away from the ball and then droping-in to receive the ball. Or the
player checked in towards the ball and then spun-off to receive the through ball.
Two left footed players on left flank, and two right footed players on right flank (the
age groups wide players).
Two forward players positioned on edge of penalty area (the age groups main
strikers).
Players in pairs on half-way line.
The pass and rotate drills also works on the teams set-moves to be used by the
players during open play during the game.
(A) plays a one-two with (B) and hits a one touch lofted pass out to player (C) (the
winger). (A) and (B) make forward run towards the edge of the penalty area to
support the forwards.
(C) lays the ball back to player (D) and then spins-off on to a through ball and
crosses into the penalty area for the advancing players.
Players (C) and (D) rotate with each other. (A) and (B) jog back to the half-way line
where another pair of players are ready to start the practice again.
The practice is repeated from the left.
COACHING POINT Player (C)s lay-off to (D) must completely take the pace-off
the ball, setting the ball back to him easily, allowing him to make that first time
through ball for (C) to run onto.
COACHING POINT The two forwards must time their runs correctly, arriving
into the box and onto the cross at the right time, not too early to be waiting for the
ball, or too late not meeting the ball. The players must check their runs, make crossovers and angle their runs to run towards the ball to attack the crosses.
COACHING POINT The two supporting midfielders must time their runs to be on
the edge of the area when the ball is hit across the penalty area, to pick up any cleared
balls by the goalkeepers, or any balls cut back to the edge of the area for them to
shoot.
Player (A) at station 1 passes to (B) at station 2, (B) receives the ball half turned with
his left foot and plays a diagonal pass to player (C) and station 3. Player (C) must
knock the ball out of his feet on his first touch and shoot at goal using his left foot.
Players then rotate to the next station. Player (C) then joins the group of players at 1.
The players in both groups work at the same time.
After all the players have rotate around all the stations a few times, the players in
both groups change over so the players have to work with their other foot.
COACHING POINT (B)'s return pass to (A) must weighted correctly to force (A)
to come and meet the ball.
COACHES MANNER - The thing I noticed most about the youth coaches were that
they said very little during the training session. When the players were playing their
small-sided games and when the players were performing their drills, they never
shouted advice to the players. All the coaches stood still and observed what the
players were doing. Every now and then the coach would call all the players in, give
instructions and information, and then let the players continue.
All age groups finished the sessions by playing 8 v 8 games using either half or
three quarters of a full-sized pitch using portable goals. The size of the pitch
depended on the players age.
Both teams played the 'numbers' system which is played throughout Holland. Every
number on the players back represents a different position with different duties to
perform.
All players showed the same passing and control techniques that I had seen during
training sessions over the past few days. There was Thinking behind every pass,
one-touch passes and give and goes. All of the players received the ball with an open
body or half-turned. The players of both teams made themselves available to receive
the ball, and created space to receive the ball. All players were multi-footed and never
had to move the ball on to their stronger foot.
Both teams built-up the play from the back with the goalkeeper feeding the ball to the
back players 2, 3 and 5. The goalkeepers are seen as another outfield player, a
sweeper.
The goalkeeper and defenders 3 and 4 were always involved in the build up play, and
were always available to receive the ball from a team-mate.
When the back players were building up the play, and the ball was being circulated,
players 3 and 4 were never by-passed by players 2 and 5. The ball was never switched
from flank to flank with a direct pass, the ball was moved around by short passes, so
the players made sure possession was retained.
Player 3 the central defender and player 4 were encouraged to play the ball forward
by making a slightly deeper pass (still along the ground) to number 10 the withdrawn
striker. The space to play the ball through to number 10 was created by the midfield
players 6 and making split runs. This pass was always played to player 10's feet so he
could then lay the ball off to either players 6 or 8.
Wide players 7 and 11 would always try to get in behind their markers. If a deep pass
was made to either of the wide players they would play quick 'give and goes' with
players 6 and 8 (the supporting midfielders) and then spin-off ready to receive the
return ball for them to run on to and cross. I saw this many times by the youth teams
during their training sessions.
The quality of the wingers crosses were very good, with the ball usually being played
deep for the central striker.
Players 9 and 10's rotation was very good. If 9 the central striker dropped in to
receive the ball, number 10 the withdrawn striker would automatically rotate positions
and push on into the forwards position.
Players were never afraid to play the ball backwards to a supporting team-mate, so
the team could retain possession of the ball if there was not a forward passing option.
If possession was lost by a team that was attacking, the team would regain possession
of the ball quickly by every player 'pressing' forward onto the opposition. This cause
possession changing hands quite a lot during certain periods of the game, but the ball
would generally be back in possession with the team that had been on the attack. The
players retained possession of the ball better during the training sessions than they did
during the match, but this was more likely to be due to the very poor playing
conditions.
If a player made a mistake, he was never shouted at by a team-mate, he would be
encouraged by his team-mates.
All free kicks and set plays where taken early, often catching the opposition out.
NOTE - The two team's coaches were very quite on the touch-line. They were never
screaming out instructions or pacing up and down the touch-line. They would stand
still and observe quietly and give the odd instruction to one of the players.
At the end of the game both sets of players performed a warm-down.
This is helped by players calling for the ball to the player who is going to pass the
ball to them as the ball is travelling to him before he receives the ball. This allows this
player to adjust his body position before the ball arrives, to make the next pass.
For example player 3 must call for the ball from player 2 while player 1 has the ball.
Player 2 can then adjust his body position to enable himself to play the ball to player
3.
COACHING POINT - Before a player calls for the ball, the player must 'show' for
the ball and create an angle to receive the ball.
DEVELOPMENT - The area in which the players must work in is made tighter for
quicker passes, sharper reactions and sharper 'Awareness'.
DEVELOPMENT - The area is now opened up so that the players now have to work
in a larger area, now hitting slightly longer passes.
The players must try to get the ball from one server to the other server / target man
without the other team getting the ball. If the other team get the ball they must try to
get the ball from one server to the other server, the floater plays on the team in
possession of the ball.
The players must play one-touch passes, two touch passes can only be used if
extremely necessary so not letting the game break down. The floater is only allowed
to play on touch passes. The servers / target players can play two touch football.
ORGANIZATION NOTE - The players must make regular change of roles.
COACHING POINT - The players must move the ball as quickly as possible, this is
why the players must play one-touch passes, this is to keep the ball moving and the
players constantly moving, keeping the picture constantly changing.
MAJOR COACHING POINT - The team in possession of the ball must form a
diamond shape using the floater and the server who is in possession of the ball, or has
just released possession of the ball. Throughout the practice the floater must all stay
central playing the way he is facing, forming the top of the diamond.
COACHING POINT - The floater must play with an open body and play one-touch
lay-offs when the ball is played deep to him so that the play can then be played
forward to the target man.
Once a goal is scored the teams change around and attack the other goal. Once you
have scored a goal you then have possession of the ball again and attack the other
goal. (If a team scores in say goal (A), the player must try to switch around quickly, as
the goalkeeper in the goal that they have just scored in will play the ball back out to
your team again and try to attack goal (B). The attackers basically become defenders
and the defenders are now attackers.
COACHING POINT Counter-attack. Quick change over after scoring a goal and
attack the opposition as early as possible to try to catch the opposition out.
COACHING POINT - When in possession of the ball and when the opposition have
possession of the ball, both teams must press forward. The team not in possession of
the ball must push up on to the opposition and try to win the ball as close to the
oppositions goal as possible.
THE SHAPE ADOPTED BY BOTH TEAMS.
3-1-3.
Every time a goal is score the players have to change over roles and duties, the
furthest forward player (9) now becomes the last man (3), the last man (3) now
becomes the (9), the player who was attacking down the right is now attacking down
the left. This goes on throughout the team.
COACHING POINT The players are performing all duties. So the defenders are
also practicing as forwards, and the forwards are practicing as defenders, which is
ideal training with the
AREA -
There are four stations, with 6 players at station 1 and 6 players at station 2. There are
also 2 players positioned in the middle of the area These two players act as play
makers and are numbered XI and X2.
These sets of drills work on 4 players working in one touch passing combinations.
X1 and X2 are the teams centre-forward (9) and withdrawn striker (10). All age
groups generally have 4 players that can play in these two positions. These four
players take turns in these roles.
The practices are repeated at one end of the area from stations 1 and 2 with the
players moving to stations 3 and 4. Once all players have worked through the area.
The practice are repeated
STAGE ONE The practice starts from station 2. Player (A) passes to X 1, X 1 comes short to
receive the pass and returns the ball to (A) before spinning away, (A) then plays a
deeper pass to X2 and then makes a forward run. X2 sets the ball back to (B) and then
drops-in, rotating positions with X 1, (B) makes an angled pass for player (A) to run
onto.
Players (A) and (B) join the two other stations. Players X1 and X2 have rotated
around so that X2 now receives the first pass. The drill is then repeated with players
(C) and (D).
After all the players at stations 1 and 2 have gone through the drill and are at stations
3 and 4, the drill is repeated, but with the ball starting at station 4.
Once all the players are back at stations 1 and 2, X1 and X2 are replaced by two
different players, the drill is then repeated, but with the drill stating at station 1, with
the practice then repeated from station 3 afterwards (the other end).
COACHING POINT - All players must come towards the ball that they are going to
receive.
COACHING POINT - The players must play with an open body.
COACHING POINT Speed of practice. Once X1 has played a return pass to
player (A), he must spin off and be ready to rotate positions with X2, so they can start
the drill again with the next two players as quickly as possible.
STAGE 2 XI and X2 are replaced by two different players again.
(A) passes to XI in the centre and (A) makes a forward run. XI with an open body
passes to player (B) before spinning-away, (B) plays a 'wall pass' off X2, X2 rotates
with Xl. (B) plays an angled pass for player (A) to run onto. The drill is then repeated.
Once all the players are at stations 3 and 4, the drill is repeated again with the players
moving back to stations 1 and 2.
Once all players are at stations 3 and 4, the drill is repeated once again with the
players working the ball back to stations 1 and 2. XI and X2 are replaced by two
different players and the drill is repeated.
The drill is then repeated again with X2 calling and showing for the ball, he is bypassed and the ball is passed to Xl as before.
When all players are back at stations 1 and 2. The practice is then repeated at station
1, and then at station 3.
MAJOR COACHING POINT Players must be alert and fully concentre, as the
movement will be quite hard to follow if not fully understand. The practices are done
at high speed, and then repeated quickly with the next player passing the ball in for
the practice to be repeated.
COACHING POINT Weight of pass, all passes must be zipped into players. The
only time a pass is be under hit slightly, is when a player is needed to come towards
the ball to receive a ball played into him. Playing the ball short will encourage him to
come towards the ball.
COACHING POINT Timing of runs, if players move too early or too late they will
not be in the correct positions to receive the ball. Timing of runs are essential.
COACHING POINT - COMMUNICATION Players must communicate well
between each other, calling early so players know exactly where to play the ball
before they receive the ball.
Player (A) passes to player (B), (B) plays the ball backwards to player (C), (C) plays a
diagonal pass to player (D). (D) receives the ball half turned and then shoots at goal.
(D) takes the ball back to station 1. All players follow their passes and rotate to the
next station that they have just passed to.
The practice is repeated with the ball travelling down the other side.
ORGANIZATION POINT The player who shoots gets the ball from either the
goalkeeper if he made the save or the player scored. If the ball went wide of the goal,
the player would still have to go and retrieve the ball and take the ball back to the
beginning of the practice, running on the outside of the practice.
COACHING POINT - All passes are played first time and zipped along the ground.
The quality of every pass must be perfect so that every pass is playable first time.
COACHING POINT - All players must play with an open body and be ready to
receive the ball, not being flat footed.
COACHING POINT - The players at the final station must turn with the ball sharply
and shoot early.
7 V 7 + GOALKEEPERS GAME.
The players then played a 7 v 7 plus goalkeepers on half of a full-sized pitch.
This was followed by a warm down and stretching.
NOTE - I did not watch the 7 v 7 game because another age group had started their
training session, which I went over to watch.
Player (A) passes to (B) at station 2, (B) lays the ball off to (A). (A) meets the ball
and plays the ball to player (C), (C) must run the ball back to station 1.
Player (A) moves to station 2. (B) moves to station 3. The drill is repeated with the
ball being worked to station 4.
COACHING POINT - All passes must be weighted correctly and made playable
first time.
COACHING POINT - The players must rotate quickly to the next station so not to
slow down the drill.
DEVELOPMENT - Player (A)'s pass to player (C) at station 3 or 4 must now be a
driven pass.
ONE TOUCH PASS AND ROTATE FINISHING WITH A SHOT AT GOAL.
AREA
Five stations. Group of players at station 1, but only one player at the other four
stations. Usually the pass and rotate practices at PSV have two players at each station
to give the players a slight rest and also to keep things moving. This practice is
slightly different, with a bit of shadow play added. Every station represents a different
position in the team.
Player (A) passes to player (B), (B) receives the ball half turned and passes the ball
forward to player (C), (C) lays the ball off for Player (D) to shoot at goal. Once (C)
lays the ball off, he must then spin away and follow-in for any rebounds.
Player (A) rotates to station 2a. (B) (the wide player) does not follow his pass to
station 3, but instead moves to station 4. Player (D) who shot at goal moves to station
3, and player (C) who laid the ball off at station 3 and followed-in for the rebound,
gets the ball and joins station 1.
Note - The player who lays the ball off for the shot is always the player who goes and
gets the ball and takes it back to station 1.
The drill is repeated with the ball being played out to player E at station 2b, he passes
to D to lay the ball off to B.
COACHING POINT - All passes must be made playable first time by the receiving
player.
COACHING POINT The players at station 2A and 2B must receive the ball halfturned with an open body, playing a quick ball into the player at station 3.
COACHING POINT - The player who lays the ball off and then follows-in for any
rebounds, must time his run and not move too early, otherwise during a game he
would mostly likely be caught offside.
COACHING POINT The lay-off from the player at station 3 must take the weight
off the ball so the player at station 4 can run onto the ball and strike it cleanly.
COACHING POINT - Both teams must press and compress the play when the
opposition had possession of the ball. If the player in possession was in a wide area,
the opposition would shuffle over and compress.
COACHING POINT - Wide players forced inside. Players 2 and 5, right and left of
the central defender must force the oppositions wide players inside.
COACHING POINT - The goalkeepers would always make early throws to a team
mate. They either roll the ball to a close team mate, which was either 2 or 5. Or the
goalkeeper would make a deep throw to an attacking player in advanced position, to
catch out the opposition on the counter.
NOTE - There was always a supply of balls in both goals, this is so the goalkeeper
can keep the game flowing.
WARM DOWN - A warm down of light jogging was supervised by one of the
players, this same player also supervised the groups stretching exercises.
ability on the ball was still fantastic and could get out of any situation. I found this
very interesting as I never saw the players work on using these techniques or work on
getting out of these situations.
I asked Remy if you ever work on technical skills with the players and he said, We
work on one touch and two touch play - rather than turning and dribbling with the
ball. We work on quick movement of the ball. We do work on turning and dribbling
with ball at the beginning of the season as this is very important for the players. But
we work mostly on quick movement of the ball.
PSV teams are entered in tournaments across Europe throughout the season. I asked
Remy about these tournaments against foreign opposition and what they mean to
PSV, to which he said Competition against foreign teams are the most important for
us. These games are more important than all the league games the teams play. This
was to get the players use to playing against teams and players with different styles
and systems of play.
PSV'S PLAYING FORMATION -
This is the formation that both of the PSV teams used and also the same formation
that their opposition used. This is the main formation used by all teams throughout
Holland. As both teams use the same formation and 'mirror' each other, both teams
use man for man marking.
The observations I made on both of the PSV teams and on the opposition were very
similar. All the teams play the same way and use the same style of play. The PSV
teams I saw lost both the matches in close high scoring games. The noticeable
difference was that PSV were playing against older opposition and that for PSV, the
result of the game was not the major importance. The players were encouraged to play
to the system and play to their individually roles in the team. The major importance
was that the players were improving as players and as a team, and learning to play to
the system.
COACHES MANOR DURING THE MATCHES The coaches were seated in the dugouts during the game and were never up and down
on the touch-lines. The coaches were almost silent during the games, they only gave
instruction to a player who was away from the immediate playing area of the ball. For
example, if a player made the wrong choice of pass, or held onto a ball too long, the
coach would instruct him or give him advice when the ball was in another part of the
field. The coach would never give him an instruction or tell him what he should have
done when the ball was in the players playing area.
PARENTS MANOR DURING THE MATCHES The parents of the PSV players and of the opposition were completely silent during
the matches. The only time the parents made a noise was when a goal was score by
their team. The parents were not allowed to shout out any instructions or even
encouragement during the games. The parents were certainly not allowed to groan if a
goal was conceded.
OBSERVATION POINTS DURING THE MATCHES Both teams and the opposition played 'pressing football' where the whole team
pressed forward on to the opposition with and without the ball.
PSV circulated the ball superbly with the ball always moving, the picture of the game
was constantly changing. All passes were made first time with all players comfortable
using either foot.
One the most notable observations was all of the players movement off the ball.
Every player knew how to create space for himself and for his team-mates. The
players would continually rotate positions, with one player leaving one space, and a
team-mate moving into this space.
The attacking players were never ever caught offside during the matches. This was
due to the players timing their runs perfectly and also due to the ball being played into
the forwards rather than the ball being played over the top of the opposition for the
forwards to run onto.
In front of goal, no players were afraid to shoot at goal. All of the players could shoot
with both feet and all of the shots were taken early and hit low first time.
THE GOALKEEPER When the team had possession of the ball in the middle third and attacking third, the
goalkeeper always played in an advanced position on the edge or outside of the
penalty area. If the back players had possession of the ball, he would also be in an
advanced position to support his team-mates, when he received the ball, he would
switch the play and keep the ball circulating.
THE DEFENSIVE PLAYERS 3, 5, 2 AND 4 Player 3 is the last man and marks the oppositions central striker. Players 2 and 5
who play either side of central player, mark the oppositions wide players. Player 4
plays just in front of the back three and marks the oppositions withdrawn striker.
BUILD UP FROM THE BACK When the goalkeeper has possession of the ball, players 2 and 5, the right and left
sided defenders always go wide of the penalty area, this is the same with goal-kicks.
Goal-kicks are usually taken early with the ball being played out wide to players 2
and 5.
If the ball is played into players 3 or 4 to build up the play, player 10 pushes up in
line with number 9 the central striker, this takes place as soon as the ball is played into
3 or 4. 10 then checks back into the space he just left. 9 then spins into the space now
left by player 10.
Player 3 or 4 who has possession of the ball can either play to ball into 10's feet, or
play the ball into the space vacated by 10 for 9 to run onto.
NOTE - Player 10 is the withdrawn striker and plays in the hole between midfield and
attack, but if 10 is in the 'hole', there is then no 'hole' as he is filling it. 10 must push
up with 9 and then check back into the 'hole'.
SUPPORT FROM THE BACK When the team has possession of the ball in the attacking third, player 4 steps up to
support players 6 and 8. If 4 receives the ball from 6 or 8, he must then play the ball
out wide to 7 or 11.
MIDFIELD PLAYERS 6 AND 8 Players 6 and 8 stay central and build up the play through the middle of the pitch.
They link the defence to the withdrawn striker and also to the wide players. Both
players must work very hard to regain possession of the ball from the opposition and
hold the middle of the pitch.
THE WIDE PLAYERS 7 AND 11 7 and 11 always look to get in behind the oppositions defence, then get to the dead
ball line before putting in a cross. They mostly get the ball played into them behind
the defence. This is usually done by giving a 'give and go' and then running onto a
through ball.
When the back players are in possession of the ball but are being pressed by the
opposition. 7 and 11 will drop back into their own half of the pitch to give support to
the back players by giving a passing option.
PLAYER RELATIONSHIPS During the games the players made relationships with each other, where players
would rotate positions with each other. This was mostly seen with the central striker 9
and the withdrawn striker 10, but a lot of the other players would also rotate around.
The three players on the left of the pitch 5, 8 and 11 would rotate around quite often.
The same would happen on the right of the pitch with players 2, 6 and 7.
This rotation of positions was mostly seen when the PSV teams were defending in a
close area in their own half of the pitch. When possession of the ball was won and the
players broke out, the players would push forward into other players positions. If 5 the
left sided defender intercepted a pass from the opposition and broke forward, 8 the
left sided midfield player drop back and become 5. The original number 5 would most
often then play a one-two with 11 the left winger and then rotate positions with him as
well.
Players would rotate back into their original positions by playing quick one-two's.
This rotation not only creates space for other players to move into, but also enables
players to cover less ground when possession of the ball is lost. If for example, if
number 2 gets forward, he would not have to run back 50 yards back into position if
possession was lost, as another player would have rotated into his position as he broke
forward.
SET-PLAYSDuring the matches I noted which player in which position took the set pieces in
different areas of the field. I also noted the movement of the players of the ball.
THROW-INS IN THE DEFENSIVE THIRD Throw-ins on the right were taken by player 2, the right sided defender. Player 3 the
central defender and player 5 the left sided defender would shuffle over to support.
Player 5 would take the throw-ins on the left side of the pitch, 3 and 2 would shuffle
over.
THROW-INS IN ADVANCED POSITIONS In the middle third and attacking third, the throw-ins were taken by players 6 and 8,
the left centre and right centre midfield players.
Number 9 would push forward, the wide player on that side of the pitch would make
a forward run up the touch line. Player 10 the withdrawn striker would push up onto
the number 9 and then drop back in late showing for the ball. Player 4 always moves
up and over to support from behind.
Players 7 and 11 only take quick throw-ins in the attacking third if they can catch out
the opposition, otherwise they leave the ball for players 6 and 8.
ATTACKING CORNERS At attacking corners, all players push up except only two defensive players who stay
back and defend, but this depends on how many opposition players stay up in
attacking positions.
ATTACKING FREE-KICKS IN THE MIDDLE THIRD Free kicks just behind the half-way line are taken by defensive players. But free kicks
in the oppositions side of the pitch, in the attacking half of the middle third are taken
by players 6 and 8. Players 6 and 8 usually take the free-kicks early to keep the ball
moving and catch out the opposition. Otherwise they play lofted balls into the forward
players.
ATTACKING FREE-KICKS IN A WIDE POSITION IN THE ATTACKING
THIRD Free kicks in attacking wide areas are always taken by the wide players 7 and 11. The
free-kicks are lofted into the penalty area, these kicks are out-swinging.
DEFENDING AT SET PLAYS DEFENDING AT FREE-KICKS IN THE DEFENSIVE THIRD If the free kick is on PSVs left side of the pitch. The wide left player number 11 will
drop back into the left side of defence. 6 and 8 the central midfield players drop back,
usually to form the wall. The defensive players mark the oppositions attacking
players. Number 9 the central striker stays up on the half-way line. 10, the withdrawn
striker will be positioned on the edge of the penalty area, to put presses on the ball if
the ball is played into the middle, he is also well positioned to brake out if possession
is won. 7, the wide right player is positioned in a slightly advanced position, this is to
cover the opposite side of the pitch, but is also in a good position for a quick brake
away once possession is regained.
DEFENDING AT CORNERS When defending at corners, all players drop back to defend except the central striker
number 9 and the wide players 7 and 11 who take up attacking positions. 10 the
withdrawn striker is positioned on the edge of the penalty area.
During one of the matches the score-line was very close with only a few minutes to
go, PSV drew all the players back to defend except number 9 who was still positioned
in an attacking position.