Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): positional practice plans: defense

warm up drill

Set Up:

have players start in a circle 5 on the outside,  2 in the middle (as defenders)

set up 2 or3  circles depending on the number of players present at practice- we want to increases time on ball/on task 

Instructions: players on the outside look to keep the ball away from the two defenders in the middle the circle should remain tight to keep the passes quick and crisp. 

attacking players should look to play 1 or 2 touch. 

if a defender wins or intercepts the ball, they switch out with the player who they won the ball from. 

Key Factors:

1) passing and receiving technique 

- first touch away from pressure

-body position open to give options 

-communication between passers to keep possession 

2) defensive principles 

- forcing 1 way

-working together/ communicating 

-blocking passing lanes to deny passes or intercept 

Variation/Progression:

1) start with unlimited touches for the outside players, transition to 2 touches and finally move to 1 touch play

 2) to keep the play challenging and engaging, if the outside players complete 10 passes both defenders must stay in for an extra round

if the outside players successfully "split" the defenders playing a pass between them- both defenders must stay in for another round.

Ball played wide

Organization: SAME AS LAST SCREEN 

As the ball is played wide, the defending group must adjust to the ball and move as the ball travels. The first defender now has a decision to make: does he or she pressure the ball, or does he or she sit and try to take passing lanes away from the player on the ball. If the ball is pressured, then the rest of the defending team can step up and get even more compact. But if the player closest to the ball sits in passing lanes, then the rest of the defending team must do the same in anticipation of where the next pass will go.

Key Factors:

1) Stay compact

2) Move as a unit

3) Keep the ball in front

4) Intercept passes wherever possible

5) Communication

Low pressure on the ball played wide

Organization: As above.

In this case there is no real pressure on the ball so the defending team needs to hold positional shape a little more and to sit in or close to possible passing lanes. There is also the very real possibility of a ball hit into the space behind the back line so it is imperative that all four fullbacks and the GKer are ready for and anticipating that ball. Every player at this point has at least two jobs (represented by the lines of movement - which line will depend on what the player on the ball does next).

Key Factors:

1) Stay compact - drop/hold together with lower pressure

2) Move as a unit

3) Keep the ball in front

4) Intercept wherever possible - anticipate where the ball is going

5) Communication

7v7 SSG

Set Up/ instructions:

7v 7 field set up- 30mwide x 40mlong 

goals on each end line

2 teams set up in different colored bibs. subs will stay on the side line and enter the game at coaches discretion

2x 15 minute halves 

Key Factors:

- defensive movement 

- connection from the defense to the mids

- transition out of defense to attack 

Variation/Progression: