Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending Session - Heuer Education Meeting

Warm Up (15 mins)

Organization:

- Players in groups of 3

- 1 Ball per group

Instructions:

- Players are roughly 5 yards apart passing back & forth (2-touch or 1-touch). Three technical defending sequences to work on detailed below:

1.) When player stops the ball, partner must run up, touch the ball, and run backwards in a defending position.

2.) When player lets the ball roll through their legs he must begin to sheild the ball from his partner, partner must run to the ball to get touch-tight and just force the attacker back.

3.) When player begins to attack his partner, partner must jockey and "delay" attacker from getting around him.

- Second player becomes second defender and must put themselves in correct "covering position"

Coaching Points:

- Reaction to defending

- Recognition of type of defending style to use

- Choice of defending style (run backwards, pressure to force backwards, jockey)

- Body shape, stance and balance when defending

- Positioning of cover defender. Not too far away and set at good angle.

Progressions:

- Make a competitive game. Attacker must try and dribble and split the two defenders to score a point.

Main Activity II (30 mins)

Organization:

- Same set-up as prior screen

Instructions:

- Play starts with service from defender in 1 channel.

- Attackers can attack any goal (their starting channel or a different channel) and can move between channels; however, they must always have a 1v1 in each channel, cannot have a 2v1.

- Defenders must stay in their own channel, they are not allowed to cross over or change into opposite channels.

- Halfway scoring restriction is lifted.

Coaching Points:

- Communication between defenders

- Watch visual cues of attackers to make sure ball cannot get in behind.

- Decision to pressure, delay, cover, tackle

Free Play (30 mins)

Organization:

- 11v11

Instructions:

- Free Play