Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): U14 Futsal Session : Pressing

1v1 defending technique (10 mins)

Key Factors

Approach speed

Body shape

Tackling technique

'Quick, Slow, Sideways, Low'

Organisation

Blue players passes to red and closes down

Red tries to run ball over end line for a point

If Blue wins ball he can score by running ball over opposite end

Change roles when ball goes dead

Progressions

1. Narrow the zone and task blue player to try to force the attacker out of the zone.

2. 2 v 1 Defending - introduce another Red Player - Blue passes the ball and seeks to close down. Remember, Positioning - Try to limit the options open ofr the player in possession. Can you slow the Attacker? Can the Defender position so as to Press the Attacker but also threaten to intercept the ball? Patience! (see over)

2v2 defending techniques (10 mins)

Key Factors

Approach speed

Covering angles

Body shape

Organisation

Blues pass in to reds and defend against them

Reds try to run ball over opposite end line for a point

If Blues get the ball, can they try to run the ball over the Reds end line?

Progression

1. Add small goal in centre of end line for each team to try to score through;

2. Multi Directional Game - Team that scores by dribbling over the end line or playing ball through goal changes direction and seeks to score in opposite goal. Quick repositioning for Defending Team.

3. Add a goal in the centre of the pitch - if either team dribbles through the centre goal, 3 points are scored.

'Defend the Halfway Line' (20 mins)

Key Factors

Making opposition predictable

Wait for trigger

Speed of approach - Fast to slow

Body position when defending

Organisation

Ball starts with red team giving ball away to Blue team GK

Blues look to play out to from GK and either dribble or succesfully pass over half way line

Red team try to press and win ball back

Red team try to score vs GK when they win possession

Blue team cannot pass back to GK (Realistic to Futsal rules).

Can we create an overload on a defending player?

Can we threaten passing lines?

Can we show a defender onto another of our players?

Progression