Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defending - Pressure, Cover, Balance

Warm-Up (15 mins)

Organization:

-20x25 grid

Instructions:

-Team in groups of four passing and moving around grid unrestricted

-Players can pass to either team, after five passes the team that does not have possession presses the ball. Working on principles of defense when the other team wins the ball to limit counter-attack opportunities

Coaching Points:

-First Defender delays by defending the space & slowing the attackers down.

-Use the sideline as a second defender to try and create a 1v1.

-Second defender transitions back quickly to get back behind the ball.

-When players are behind the ball, slow down the attack and try to force the play back.

Expanded Small Sided Activity (20 mins)

Organization:

-Full width x 40 yards length

- Normal size goal at one end, three counter goals at the other end

- #5 for the Red team acts only as a server

Instructions:

-7v5 with Red attacking towards the goal and White attacking towards the three counter goals. If red white scores, play restarts with the #5 who acts only as a server. If Red scores, play restarts from the keeper

Coaching Points:

1) Pressure, Cover,Balance

2) Delay the attacking team the opportunity to penetrate

3) Balance-defensively you have numbers behind the ball, force the play into pressure

4) Effective communication and organization

-5) If team cannot apply pressure quickly enough, must drop as a unit to compress(compact) the space and delay opponent