Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): FAW C-licence: Small Sided Game: Defending/Defending the Lines & Defending Principles_Session6 (Start Time: 2025-09-22 19:00:00)
FAW Coach Ed
Steve Powell
Description
FAW SESSION PLAN: Steve Powell_Session 6
Age of Players: U12
No. of Players: 12–13 (including 1 GK if available)
Ability Level: Development
Duration of Session: 90 minutes (Full) SSG: 25-30 minutes
Topic: Defending / Defending the lines & Defending Principles
Practice Type: Small Sided Game (Tactical / Game Principles - Defending)
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Conditions-Challenges-Targets
Conditions (Playing Area)
- Defending team must remain compact between vertical lanes - coach 'distances'
- Attackers (BLUE) encouraged to play through central lane to challenge screening and pressing behaviour.
- When defending team (RED) wins the ball → must transition to score within 8 seconds into any target goal
- GK encouraged to act as a communicator and organiser.
- Directional practice to utilise GK, and mini goals to represent forward passes and quick transitions
- Ball always restarts with team attacking big goal.
Challenges (for players)
- Can you stay connected between units when the ball is wide?
- Can you protect central areas and force play into wider zones?
- Can you press together - +1 — one goes, others cover and balance?
- Can you recover into shape quickly when the ball is lost?
Targets (How to score)
- Defending team: 2 goals for winning possession and scoring within 8 seconds.
- Attacking team: 1 goal for scoring through normal play; 2 goals if the ball travels through the central lane before scoring
- Bonus: defending team earns 2 points if they prevent an attack from entering the penalty area.
- Bonus: attacking team earns 1 point for getting into penalty area and any then gets a shot on target.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Mechanics / Games Principles to be delivered
Mechanics to be Delivered - Defending
- Get in line with the ball.
- Pressure on the ball.
- Decelerate and control approach.
- Side-on body position.
- Stay on toes and read cues.
- Be patient and delay.
- Decision to tackle or intercept.
- Recovery runs and communication
Game Principles – Defending:
- Stay compact (between and within lines).
- Deny space and forward passing options.
- Protect central areas first, then wide spaces.
- Press in units (1st, 2nd, and 3rd defenders) - emphasis on +1
- Cover, balance, and communication across the line.
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Organisation (Practice Layout & Transition)
This practice aims to help players understand how to defend as a unit by protecting central spaces and compacting lines.
It transfers individual and unit defending mechanics from previous technical/skill work into a realistic 7v7 format, reflecting the team’s 1–2–2–3–1 structure in 9v9.
The pitch has been widened to expose players to defending against switches, diagonal passes, and wide overloads — promoting recognition of when and how to screen, press, and cover +1.
Organisation (Practice Layout & Transition)
Directional Practice to maintain realism and use GK.