Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defensive Transition

Keep it on the pitch (15 mins)

Set Up: Divide players into two teams

Session Aims:  An area suitable for the age and ability of your players – and place a goal at each end. Larger spaces give your team extra room, making keeping the ball in play easier. Smaller areas make this task much more demanding.  

Any player who takes the ball out of the area (or accidentally knocks it out) must come off the pitch for one minute. The player can re-join the game if any of the following situations occur.  

• Their 60 seconds are up.

• Another player hits the ball out.

• Their team scores. In this instance, a player from the other side must replace them on the sideline.

Note: only one player can be off the pitch at any time.  

Defensive Transition (20 mins)

Set Up: Set up a grid 24x30 and inside set another grid 10x15.

Inside of the small grid play 3v1. 

In the bigger grid have 5 players.

Session Aims:

The drill starts in the small grid where 3 Red players keep the ball awayfrom the 1 yellow player.

Theyellow player inside the small grid tries to kick the ball out of the smallgrid to one of his teammates in the bigger grid. Once that happens the gamemoves from the small grid into the big one and from a 3v1 to a 6v3. The 3players transition from attackers in the small grid to now having to defend inthe big grid.

If the ball is touched by any of the Red 3, goes out of the playing areaor is won by any of them, the game restarts in the small grid.

Coaching Points:

Focus on the 3 Red players after losing the ball how quickly they can press to force a mistake or win the ball back.

The 3 Red players working together after losing the ball. 

Tring to force the yellow team to play to one side before pressing to win the ball. 

Progressions:

 Add Goalson the end and once the ball is played out can the yellow team attack the goaland score or can the red team win the ball and go score.