Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Session 4: Defending a 1v1

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Calum Jagger-Limbert

Profile Summary

Calum Jagger-Limbert
Name: Calum Jagger-Limbert
City: Lincoln
Country: United Kingdom
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Description

This session will focus on defending principles.

Learning defending principles is crucial in soccer as it helps players maintain proper positioning, control space, and delay opponents, preventing goal-scoring opportunities. It also enhances team coordination and defensive resilience during match play. Reilly (2005) highlights the critical role of body positioning and spatial awareness in defensive situations. Defenders should anticipate attackers’ movements and steer play away from high-risk areas to reduce threats and maintain control.


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 1

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 1
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Learning Objectives

Technical Technical
(20%) Defensive technical skills
Technical Tactical
(20%) Pressure, cover and balance
Technical Physical
(20%) Speed, endurance and Explosive movements
Technical Psychological
(20%) Decision making, self- belief and resilience
Technical Social
(20%) Team work and communication

Screen 1 (15 mins)

Whole Part Whole: Defending the 1v1. 15 minutes

Players will be split into two teams, each being assigned a 1v1. (cb-st/ wing/wing/ cm/cm) Only goalkeepers don't have a 1v1 assigned. 

2x7.5 Minute games. 

Game 1 players assigned to correlating positions (cb-st/ wing/wing/ cm/cm)

Game 2 players will be assigned random 1v1, players willl need to adapt and follow their 1v1 covering space and points of the field accordingly. 

Players can only tackle their 1v1 assigned so they need to scan and recognise where their 1v1v moves to and stop them receiving the ball or make a tackle if they do.

Adaptations:

1) change the 1v1 for the players 

 

 

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

 

1) can you scan and recognise where your 1v1 is

2) can you stop them receiving the ball 

3) can you make a tackle and win possession for your team

Pitch size: Full 7v7 field 

12 balls

use pitch marking or cones if pitch isn't available 

Bibs for one team 

2 7v7 goals


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 2

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 2
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Learning Objectives

Technical Technical
(40%) Defensive stance, tackling and angles of approach
Technical Tactical
(10%) cutting of space and reducing the field
Technical Physical
(20%) Strength and explosive movements
Technical Psychological
(20%) Self- belief and resilience
Technical Social
(10%) Encouragement/ communication

Screen 2 (15 mins)

1v1 Defending and transition Practice. 15 minutes

Defenders will pass the ball to the attackers, they with sprint out, and make a tackle. If they are successful can they transition quickly and score.

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

1) If the attackers have to much time and success make the pitch size smaller

 

 

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

1) 1v1 defending principles

a: Sprint out and close the space

b: slow down

c: show them where you want them to go (control the situation)

d: Surf board/ side on position to change direction quickly if needed

e: Timing of the tackle

2) Transition quickly to get away from the player if you win the ball

3) identify your 1v1. 2 groups at a time so make sure you press the right player

pitch size: 15 feet by 20 feet

bibs for one team

12 balls for quick restarts

4 cones

3 small sided goals


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 3

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 3
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Learning Objectives

Technical Technical
(30%) Defensive stance, tackling and angles of approach
Technical Tactical
(20%) cutting of space, reducing the field and cover/ balance
Technical Physical
(15%) Strength and explosive movements
Technical Psychological
(15%) Resilience
Technical Social
(20%) Communication

Screen 3 (15 mins)

Progression session: 2v2 defending. 15 minutes

Same session as before but we introduce a second attacker and defender

Adaptations 

1) Adding extra player

 

 

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

1) pressure and cover

2) identify your 1v1 (closest person presses the ball)

3) second defender protects the space and jumps to press when their 1v1 receives the ball

 

pitch size: 15 feet by 20 feet

bibs for one team

12 balls for quick restarts

3 small goals

4 cones


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 4

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 4
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Learning Objectives

Technical Technical
(20%) Defensive technical skills
Technical Tactical
(20%) Pressure, cover and balance
Technical Physical
(20%) Speed, endurance and Explosive movements
Technical Psychological
(20%) Decision making, self- belief and resilience
Technical Social
(20%) Team work and communication

Screen 4 (15 mins)

6v6 game. 15 minutes

Free play game, allow the players to make their own decisions. Finding their 1v1,  pressure, cover and balance

 

 

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

1) Find your 1v1

2) protect a teammate

3) stop them receiving the ball or make a tackle 

pitch size: 7v7 field

12 balls for quick restarts

bibs for one team

2 7v7 goals


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75
per year
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