Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): RHS - Back 5 Defending I

Team Talk & Warmup (10 mins)

1) Captain Vote

2) Video Review

3) Defending Corner Kicks

Defending passing lanes in back 5 (20 mins)

Intervals:

3 min work + 1 min rest x 4 reps = 16 min

Setup:

30x40 grid split into 4 zones

2 teams of 10 split into groups of 5

Activity:

Team in possession moves the ball to play into other half of team.

Defenders must stay in zones and prevent passing lanes to try to steal ball.

Coaching Points:

+ COMMUNICATE

+ Check shoulders

+ Defensive shape (not flat)

+ Still need pressure on ball

Defending Crosses (20 mins)

Intervals:

10 min work + 1 min rest x 2 reps = 21 minutes

Setup:

2 Teams

1 GK

Field setup as shown with wide channels & counter goals

Activity:

Team of defenders (Back 3) and Team of attackers (one wide, three central).

Attacking team plays a combo to get a player out wide for cross into box.

Defending team defends the cross and attempts to score in counter goals.

Alternate from right & left sides.

Progressions:

~ Allow winger to play early, diagonal cross

Coaching Points:

+ Pressure / cover on initial combination play into channel then immediate recovery.

+ Near post runner is most dangerous, central runner is next, far post runner next, etc.

+ Goalkeeper must be aware of targets to anticipate where cross is likely to be played.

+ Body shape of defenders -- open to field; see ball and attacker