Futsal Session (Junior): Diamond Defending

Drill: Defending Principles (20 mins)

Diamond Defensive shape Drill - Pressure and Cover

Setup
4 zones
4 small goals or 2 big goals
bibs
cones
8 players (extras can be a third option to pass ball too or if 10. 2 big goals with keepers

Explanation 3mins then switch middle players

Players are stuck to there zones, ball starts and restarts from middle pair

middle pair is making passes between the two of them and trying to pass to there team mates infront of goals, in order to score they must pass the ball, the team mate must then pass to his team mate that can score ( similar to a back post tap in).

If the ball passes the 2 middle players can try intercept/put pressure on the players before they score. If defending team wins the ball they try go the other way

Progression:
middle defending team can now enter the zone to try win the ball - incourage only pressuring/winning the ball in reaction to bad pass, slow pass, facing wrong direct or bad touch.
1 player from middle defending team can dribble forward into the zone making it a 3v2

Coaching points:
First Defender - putting pressure on ball carrier and cutting off direct passing channel
Second Defender - offering support to first defend and cutting off central passing lane (diagonal), also prepared to become first defender when ball has gone to the player they are marking.
Timing - if the ball does beat the defending team, can we have quick reaction time to prevent the goal/intercept the ball
Checking shoulders - make sure defending team is scanning to make sure they are always cutting passing lanes

Diamond shape as ball moves

Diamond Defensive shape

Always defending the middle space zonal, each player as a person they are responsible, at the same time closing the middle of the field. As the ball is played out defensive team adjusts shape to create a strong side

Game training (25 mins)

Setup up
8 + players
cones + flat markers
bibs
balls
2 big goals

Explanation: 5 min game - 2min rest -  ball always restarts with team in possession from keeper. team set ups are 3-1 with defending team at half court

If the ball finds a direct pass from the 2 or 3 to a player in the middle zone (from there own half) team in possession gets a point

3 points for a back post goal
1 point for a normal goal

Coaching points - focus on attacking team first
Shape - 3-1 high and wide, look to come in to receive the ball - look to rotate out with players to create confusion
Take the ball to the opponent - no point passing deep in own half encourate moving forward with the balls
Quick ball movement - Encourage quick ball movement when the pass has been made foward can we look to play quick back post
Movement off the ball - when the ball has broken the first line, can we react and make our selfs available higher up the pitch - after the ball has been passed into our targets the shape should become a 1-3
Encourage shooting from 10metres of less - white central dots are 10 metres, expect shots anywhere within this area and ecourage shooting from this area




Defending
Shape - work with all 4 players to stay compact, look to win the ball in wide areas or intercepting
First Defender - putting pressure on ball carrier and cutting off direct passing channel
Second Defender - offering support to first defend and cutting off central passing lane (diagonal), also prepared to become first defender when ball has gone to the player they are marking.
Timing - if the ball does pass direct through players, can we react to get behind the ball/ intercept the ball
Checking shoulders - make sure defending team is scanning to make sure they are always cutting passing lanes
Block shots at 10metres - if oppoent is within 10 metres number 1 job is block shots.
Taking metres - on any back pass encourage defending team to step and take metres (only step when ball isnt in possession (between passes)
Look to press and win - when ball is in oppoents half on the cues (bad touch, bad pass, slow pass, facing own goal) look to press, encourage this moment higher up the pitch as it is furtherest away from the goal