Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 1v1 Defending

1v1 Defending Technique (15 min)

Instructions:

• Set up lanes with one player on each side
• One side will start with the ball (i.e. blue). They are the defenders. The blue players will pass the ball across to the red player and then close them down to defend. 
• Players switch roles each round

Round 1&2: The attacker and defender are passive. Solely focus on the defender's technique.

Round 3&4: Both players are live. The defender is looking to either tackle or force the attacker out of the lane.

Cues:

• Fast, slow, low - The defender should close down the attacker with speed. As they get closer, they need to slow down and get low. 
• Defender should find an endpoint (the point at which they stop moving forward and start moving backwards with the attacker)
• The endpoint cannot be too close or the attacker will beat them, but it needs to be close enough to effect them (i.e. attacker's head goes down)
• Defender should have a staggered stance 
• Keep your weight balanced 
• Identify cues to tackle and/or win the ball (i.e. tackle if the attacker takes a poor touch, slide body in between attacker and ball if they take a big touch)

Progression into 2v2 (15 min)

Instructions:

• Blue team passes across and then comes out to defend

• Red attackers are looking to combine or go 1v1 and score.
• Attacking team receives one point each time they score
• Defending team receives two points each time they win it and score

Coaching Points:

• Individual 1v1 defending technique
• Where to force the attacker?
• Pressure/cover
• Pressure defender needs to arc run and take away the goal
• Make sure cover defender is connected and taking away the other goal
• Defenders should not criss cross - work together! One always pressures and the other covers
• Cues to tackle

(5 min rounds) x2