Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Youth - Futsal - Session 4: Defending Man-for-Man (Start Time: 2018-11-19 19:40:00)

Defending man for man 1 (20 mins)

Organisation

Create an area 30 x 20 yards. Split players into two teams of four. Allocate each player in each team a number between 1-4.

Instructions

The similarly numbered players from each team can only tackle each other. The two teams play against each other. To score a goal a team mus tstop the ball on the opposition's line.

Coaching Factors

Defenders should get touch tight to their opponents.

Their body shape should be side-on but aggressive.

Defenders need to understand when to get tight to opponents and when to tuck inside to cover their teammates and prevent forward passes.

Work on recovery runs to minimise the threat of defending outnumbered.

When tracking a player, ruuing backwards allows you to see both the ball and the player. Defenders should attempt to run backwards when tracking their man whenever possible.

Progressions

Place mini goals in either corner to enable teams to score by either stopping the ball on the line, or scoring into a goal.

Teams can score by stopping the ball on the line or by making ten passes. This will increase the intensity of the defending.

Add a floating player who plays for whichever team is in possession. This floater can play in the defensive half of the team in possession.

Links to Football

Players need to have an awareness at all times of exactly where on the field the ball and their opponents are.

Football is a game of individual battles all over the pitch. This exercise is all baout not getting beaten by your opponent.

This exercise also relates well to wide players and full backs, who must follow attacking players if balls are played past them.

Defending Man for Man Follow Through (20 mins)

Organisation

Two teams play a normal futsal game on a pitch 30 x 20 yards.

Instructions

Both teams initially set up in their respective diamond shapes when defending. The half way line is used as a reference. Once the ball is played over the halfway line the defence should transition from a diamond shape to following their man. This tactic is known as half court follow through.

Coaching factors

Players are responsible for following their man once they pass the ball.

It is important to shut off passing options to the middle of the pitch.

Defenders need to understand when to go tight to their man and when to go looser. This depends on pressure on the ball. If the first defender's pressure is good, then he can get closer; if it is not, then cover needs to be applied to stop the opposition playing forward.

Defenders not only have to follow their man but also cover the most dangerous areas on the pitch.

Defenders can pass runners onto their fellow defenders to allow for more effective zonal defending. Communication is vital for this to be done.

All defensive decisions must be made in relation to the defensive pressure that is on the ball.

Progressions

1. One team plays in a zonal diamond the whole time and the other defends man-to-man.

2. Take out the goal at each end and play line ball. This makes it harder to defend.

3. Play an attack versus defence game on half the pitch. The attackers get 10 attacks to score. If they score then the game resets and they get another ten attacks. This puts the defending team under pressure to make sure taht they do not concede. The defendf=ing team must defend in a half court follow through. If they do not concede a goal in 10 attacks then the attackers and defenders switch around.

Links to Football

Football players need to understand when to man-mark and when to pass on players.

When playing against a false 9 or an attacking midfielder, centre backs and centre midfielders will have to decide whether to track their man or pass him on.

Being able to pass on or track efficiently enables protection of Zone 14 without exposing yourself defensively.

Players need to assess risk - whether the man or an area is more daengerous - and act accordingly.