Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending - U12

Technical (15 mins)

Key Factors

Learn how to defend against player dribbling/running with the ball.

Emphasis on the following mechanics

Get in line

Pressure on the ball

Deceleration

Body position

Stay on toes

Be patient

Decision to tackle

Organisation

Set up a 40X30 pitch (used throughout session) and then create 4 channels of 7.5 meters. Additional flat cone at starting point at 20m. Set up as shown in diagram. One ball per lane.

1 Defender, 2 attackers, where one is in play. Session starts where the defending team on the 20m code pass the ball to the attacker at the top of the lane. One receiving the pass it becomes a 1 v 1 however, where the attacker has to dribble past the defender. In this drill the defender can only shadow the attacker and try to force them to one side of the grid. Try and really get them understanding the mechanics of defending. After 3 attacking runs each (approx), swap the defender for an attacker and start the exercise again.

SSD (20 mins)

Key Factors

Team game to focus on defending as a team with the focus on tackling.

Organisation

6 vs 6 game - 40 x 30 pitch. Aim to knock off the ball off the cone to get a point or make 3 tackles to gain another point. Reason for replacing goal with small target is to keep the ball in play longer as there will be much less shooting. Standard game rules with no goalkeepers and kick in's instead of throw ins.

Progression

Interception of passing/making a tackle and scoring a goal in same phase of play, they score 3 points.

Regressions

If not much attacking, the team in possession has 20 seconds to score otherwise they concede to the other side.

If not much success in drill deemed by coach then make SSG 4 by 4 with spare team and change the additional team on goal. This will allow more space.