Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): U9 Session Defending Week 1 & Week 2 (Start Time: 2026-04-23 18:00:00)

Ball Mastery (10 mins)

Organization:

•  25 x 20-yard grid.
•  12 Players with a ball each.

Instructions:

• Players must dribbling around the gird without 'knocking' into anyone.
• Players are encouraged to work on moves.

Beginner

• Dribbling/running with the ball multiple surfaces inside outside laces & sole of the foot
• Pendulums inside of the foot Forward+ Backward
• Toe Taps Forward+ Backward
• Pull back

Intermediate 

• Inside cut
• Outside cut
• V turn
• U turn
• Feint
• Scissors

Advanced

• L turn
• Ronaldo chop
• Cannons
• Step over outside cut
• Slap cut

Coaching Points:

• Messi touches and close control (tight areas).
• Ronaldo touches and slightly bigger touches (open areas).
• Head up to assess space and gaps.
• Scan/Check shoulder before turning.
• Two quick touches in tight areas to get into open areas.

Progressions:

• To earn a point, players must dribble between two players then dribble outside the area, turn and dribble back into the area to score a point.
• Players must dribble between two players twice then dribble outside the area, turn and dribble back into the area to earn a point.

warm up (10 mins)

Warm up:  defending 1 v 1 10min  

Organization: 10 x 12m grid -  2 players per group cones, balls

Procedure:  One Player starts  by playing the ball to their opposite partner The player that receives the ball now looks to dribble through their opponents Gate. The Defender looks close down the attacker and win the ball and then get through the other gate.

After the game is over the player switch roles.

Each Time a player get through a gate they get a goal/point. How many points can they get?

Progression:  give players time limits ( as soon as the attacking player touch the ball they have 10 sec to score. 

Coaching points: DEFENDING:  look to close down the player 

Speed of Approach, Quickly move to the attacker with speed (touch tight)

 Angle of Approach (Side on, low), eyes on the ball, balance and body position (low, side on) 

 Delay ( prevent forward play), Deny,  Dictate where you want the player to go ( away from goal)   Show patience when to win the ball 

2 v 2 (20 mins)

 2 v 2 Defending In Pairs  20 MIN 4:1 WORK/REST  4 SETS

Mirror Activity  10 players per activity mirrored on the other side  

Strategy:

Defending Zone 2/3:

Recover the Ball – Deflect – Disturb – win.

 Defending in Zone 1:

Protect -

Prevent Shots from distance – Prevent Entry to the Box – Deny Direct access to goal.

Tactics: Force the Opponent sideways or backwards Numbers behind the ball to balance Pressure Cover Balance

Learning Objective: Working to defend as a pair. The Closet player to the ball will look to pressure the attacker. The second Defender looks to provide cover. If the first defender gets beaten, then the covering defender now becomes pressure. The initial Defender looks to recover quickly and provide cover.

Organization:

- 18W x 20L 

 10 PLAYERS per activity 

Parameters: Zone 1 & 2 

Restraint: narrow the pitch and give the attackers a time limit to create a goal scoring opportunity

Reward: Defenders win the ball and pass or dribble through a gate they get 2 points

Principle Players: Defenders, #2 #3 # 4# 5 #6

Tactics: not to allow the attackers to play through us centrally, look to force them wide and away from the goal.

Activity:

- 2 TEAMS, (red team attackers, blue team defender)

- 2v2 INSIDE THE BOX THE GOAL IS TO BEAT THE DEFENDER AND SCORE ON THE SIDE OF THE NET

-COACH OR ATTACKER  WILL SERVE THE BALL TO THE ATTACKER, TO  BEGIN.

- IF DEFENDER WINS BALL THEY CAN SCORE ON ONE OF THE PUG NETS OR GATES 

Progression: 3 attackers vs 2 defenders

Coaching Points:

Defending in pairs:1st defender: (closet to the ball) Pressure, speed of Approach, Angle of Approach. 

Deny space, Delay  Dictate where you want the opponent to go, 

 Cover Defender:  Squeeze inside to not allow the opponent to play through you (Split)

If the 1st defender gets beat, needs to step up to pressure the ball, delaying to allow the other defender to recover

Defending Principles:

Delay - The ability to prevent the ball from being played forward quickly. A pressuring player needs to reduce the time and space of the attacker to prevent the ball being played forward. This is especially important when outnumbered to allow the team to re-shape to a loss in possession appropriately

Discipline/Patience - Defending players need to be patient and assess the risk involved in challenging for the ball. A well structured defending line can quickly become disorganized with one rash challenge. Players need to exercise control and restraint and re-adjust their shape to changing scenarios. Players also need to be alert to their surroundings at all times (switched on!).