Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defending as a Back Four

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Scott Jenkins

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Name:	Scott Jenkins
City:	Roanoke
Country:	United States of America
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Def. shape in grids

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Def. shape in grids (20 mins)

8v4 with each player in their own grid. Offensive players cannot leave their respective grid. Defense organizes along middle grid. Defense works on pressure, cover, support and balance. Offense attempts to play the ball through the defense to their teammates in the opposite grid. Each pass across results in one point. Defense earns a point by winning ball and dribbling the ball out of the grid.

CPs: Communication, organization and shape by defense. Keeping eye on the ball.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defending 4v4

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Defending 4v4 (20 mins)

Initially 4v4 in a 20x30 area. Defenders are organized like a traditional back four with two center backs and a right outside back and left outside back. Goal of the attacking 4 is to dribble the ball across the goal line. Rotate defenders and attackers.

Encourage the attacking 4 to keep the ball moving and play square passes. Main coaching points here are: 1) When an attacker receives the ball, the opposing defender then steps up to pressure. 2) When the attacker passes the ball, the opposing defender then drops off and takes up a recovery/cover position. 3) If the attacker cuts inside with the ball, the defender should pass her on to her cover defender. 4) However, if the attacker makes a diagonal run off the ball, the defender should track the runner.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 4v4 to goal

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4v4 to goal (20 mins)

Progression from initial exercise except now the attacking 4 go to goal. Attacking must make at least 3 passes though before going to goal. Same principles are applied defensively, but because there is a bigger area, the decisions need to be quicker.

CPs for the defenders: Do not get caught flat-one ball should not be able to beat four defenders. 2) If a ball goes negative or square from a pass, the defenders must step up and squeeze. Step to negative or square.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 4v6 to goal

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4v6 to goal (20 mins)

Progression 2: Now play in the defensive third with two center midfield players on the defending team. If defending team wins the ball, they transition to two outside cone goals. If needed, add a bumper player on either touch line for the attacking team. Limit the bumper players to two touch.

CPs Defense: When defending a cross, make sure the two center backs open their shoulders out. 2) When the ball goes wide, the outside defenders have to get tight to the ball. 3) Center midfielders and center backs work as a box together and always keep their shape. 4) If the ball is played to a center forward, the two center midfielders get tight and double the ball.

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