Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Small Group Defending U11-U12 Session 2

4v2 (20 mins)

Objective: Improve ability to deny penetration

Area: Split ¼ of Campton field in half. Play in 12x10.

Activity: Divide into two teams. Play 4v2 in each grid one with red attacking and the other with navy attacking. Defending teams get a point added to their score every time they are split. Defending team must try to stay as close to zero as possible. If defending team wins it, must try to possess as long as they can until attacking team wins it back. Play for 60 second intervals.

Coaching Points: Communication; one player press, other cover and sit in space; ball do not get played on inside shoulders; keep play in front of them; angles of approach to manipulate attacking play; read cues(bad touch, bad pass, ball played behind, back turned to the game) of when to high press; hips must be the same for each defender; keep feet moving; read the game.

Progressions: Play where attacking team uses their hands to pass ball and split passes must be rolled on the ground. Then play with their feet.

3v3 to 3 Goals (25 mins)

Objective: Improve ability to defend in small groups

Area: ¼ of Campton field in half.

Activity: Outline grid above. Play for 3 to 4 minutes.

Coaching Points: Communication; one player press, others cover and balance; balls do not get played on inside shoulders; keep play in front of them; angles of approach to manipulate attacking play; read cues (bad touch, bad pass, ball played behind, back turned to the game) of when to high press; hips must be the same for each defender; keep feet moving; read the game; transition from big to small; pressure on the ball when possession has been decided;

Progressions: None

Notes: Must enforce the offside rule. When ball is wide, force back into middle of the field. Use extra players as another team or subs.