Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defenfing 1v1-Pressure

Activity 1: technical-unopposed

Organization:

1. 20 x 10 yard area setup as show n

2. Groups of 3 players setup as shown

3. 1 ball

Instructions:

1. The ballis positioned atthe centre ofthe area

2. Players take itin turns to close the balldow n

3. A s they approach the ballthey need to slow dow n and settheir body shape to defend the ball

4. A fter they have setand held their body position for 2 seconds,they run through to the other side ofthe area and

the nextperson in the group sets off

Coaching Points:

1. Close dow n quickly

2. Angle of approach to make play predictable

3. Slow dow n as you approach the attacker

4. Bend the knees,stay sideways on to the ball

Progressions:

1. P – Tim e the activity and have the group close the balldow n as m any tim es as they can in a settim e period

2. P – H ave players m ove the position ofthe balleach tim e so thatthe closing angle changes

3. R – H ave players w ork in 4’s to increase the restto repetition ratio

4. R – H ave players m irror each other from the other side so players see a picture each tim e they close dow n the ball

(developing players can then copy)

Activity 3:conditioned

Organization:

1. 30 x 30 yard area setup as show n

2. 8 players (2 A ttackers,2 Defenders,4

Targets)setup as shown

3. 1 ball(A dditionalaround the outside

Instructions:

1. Teams score by receiving the ball from one target player on the outside and making a pass to the other

2. If the defending team wins the ball they look to repeat w th their own target players

3. Players are perm itted as m any touches as required and can com bine w ith one another in the m iddle

4. The ballis notallow ed to be passed back to targetplayers once the ballis in play

5. Ifthe ballleaves the area the gam e is restarted by the opposing team s targetplayer

6. Play to a settim e lim itand ensure thattargets are rotated atregular intervals

Coaching Points:

1. Close dow n quickly as the balltravels

2. Slow dow n as you approach the attacker

3. G ettouch tight– preventthe attacker from turning

4. Prepare for nextaction -D elay or Tackle

Progressions:

1. P – A llow attacking players the opportunity to pass backw ard to targetplayers

2. R – Reduce the size ofthe area so thatdefending players have less space to protect