Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Defending (individual and small group organization)

Teaching Cover

Similar to the previous activity the Principle of Pressure is still key, as whoever is pressing, determines what their teammates will look to do.

As a general rule: IF YOUR TEAMMATE NEXT TO YOU IS PRESSING, YOU SHOULD TAKE-UP A COVERING POSITION

The Cover Principle of Defence is crucial when defending as a team, because it prevents opponents from easily splitting defensive lines.

Cover Principle has two main functions:

1 - Prevent opposition progression balls

2 - Take the role of Pressure, if my pressuring teammate gets beaten

Should the pressuring player keep good pressure as attacker moves into another teammate's channel, and leave their channel empty, the covering player should decide to (preferably) double-team the attacker or drop cover slightly to still cover passing line to the now-open channel.  Ideally, the two should pressure together to win the ball in the 2v1.

Ball can be played to either of the attackers, and then defender in that channel should become the pressure immediately, and the other player takes up the cover role.

Play conclusion:

1) Win the ball and dribble over endline

2) Win the ball and retain possession by playing it back

3) Ball leaves the channel

4) Defender gets beaten and attacker dribbles over endline

Size:

Combine two channels together from previous activity *If used (each channel was 12-15 yds long x 5-8 yards wide)

Coaching Points:

- Engage IP player high up the field

- Organize roles quickly and loudly

- Force outside

- Deny the split

Player Actions:

- Big steps when ball is moving and far away, small, choppy steps when ball is at IP player and you are close

- Prevent IP player from going around RM player's front foot

- Quick recovery centrally when ball moves away from engaged IP player

7v7 (4-2 v 4-2)

Defensive Principle : Delay (Pressuring Defender) Deny (Cover Defenders)

Aim: Defend the oncoming attackers using good group defensive skills forcing wide.

Rules:

- Split the team into 2 teams.

- Both teams set up in a 4-2 formation when RM and then can advance to a 2-3-1 when IP  

- Play as a regular game

Key Points:

- Group Defending: Aim for the players to get comfortable being in layers of defensive lines. Team moves together as a unit (squeezing, shifting side to side, stepping up to reduce space between lines 

Defensive tactical skills:

- 1st Defender (Delay): Player who first steps to apply pressure to the ball carrier using the individual defensive technical principals (Speed of approach, taking a passing option away, low hips, choppy feet)

- 2nd Defender (Cover): The player who keeps depth behind the 1st defender, who can stop penetrating actions or become the 1st defender if the original first defender was beaten.

- 3rd Defender (Balance): The player who helps maintain depth, and looks to help intercept penetrating actions and become the 1st defender if the opposition plays wide past the original 1st and 2nd defenders.

- Protect the middle: Get players comfortable starting and staying centrally first and applying pressure once the ball has been played to a wide opposition player.  

Terminology for young players:

- "Elbow buddy" (the player next to you)

- Start in the middle

- 5 steps (cover distance side to side and front to back with closest teammate

- No one gets around your front foot (angle of body to direct play)

Encourage:

• Team moves together
• Be aggressive to close space, but patient when close (Big steps when the ball is far away from the attacker and small steps when the ball is with the attacker)
• Protect central areas
• If beaten by attacker, don't give up and aim to win the ball back.

Coaching Points:

- Engage IP player high up the field

- Organize roles quickly and loudly

- Force outside

- Deny the split

- Furthest player is left with most space, but must be aware of position and movement

Player Actions:

- Big steps when ball is moving and far away, small, choppy steps when ball is at IP player and you are close

- Prevent IP player from going around RM player's front foot

- Quick recovery centrally when ball moves away from engaged IP player

- Cover your "elbow buddy"