Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): 05/14/25 - Phase: Defending Our Goal-Prin:Stay Compact-Action:Defending in Pairs
Premier Users' Club
Marcus Watt
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Title: 1V1 Practices - Strength Based Shuttlesinto a 1v1 Defending / Finishing Set. (20)
Organization / Activity: Here we have the red and the blue, both in a shuttle race. We are looking forthem to race out to the cone ahead, and back and forward for 4 or 5 times.This creates a repetitive change of direction task. Then, once the playershave completed the race, they sprint out to the ball and attack the oppositegoalkeeper.The first one out to the ball attacks and the second player defends. If thedefender wins possession back, then they get the chance to go to theopposite end and shoot.
Progression: Add 5/10 on the other side. Players start at the same time as other group to create a 2v2. Add's the decision do you press the ball or drop to cover your team mate?
Coaching Points / Plan for failure:
Players will fail in their decision to aggressively step to the ball - discuss dealing with physical contact the psy behind it.
Players will fail in their body shape when defending & will be square - discuss in a natural stoppage the difference between defending as the last player, defending as a pair & defending near a touchline
Players will fail in their ability to shift and cover a team mate due to their decision to worry about 'their player' & the distance between their team mate being too big. Demo what this looks like.
Players will fail in their technique to block with small steps / using the inside of their foot - explain why this is important using GQ's
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Title: Defending Block of 8 Focus Back Four - (20 minutes)
Set Up
8 vs 7 + 2
At First white and Green midfielders are restricted to play in grids.
Back four Must start in 10 yard area
Front three for green can only receive the ball by moving
side by side.
Blue can find forwards at any time weather from Neutrals (5/4 in blue)
or any midfield players.
If red wins the ball they must play to the neutral and get
it back in one touch (Doesnt have to be same player)
Coaching Points
Pressure on ball (Who)
Get head down of attacked on ball
midfield covering, sliding at same angle as ball
Reading attacked to stop splits.
Back four communicating with midfield 4
Back four dropping when any attacker has time on ball
If midfield gets split, who steps? no turn
Furthest CB provides depth
If we score and attacking team plays right away who covers?
Progression, Attacking three in midfield can go in any area.
Progression, Forwards can check into area, forcing defenders to decide who steps who drops
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Title: Play 7v9 - Middle Third - vs Mid Block (20 Minutes)
Aim: Put players in a setting where they can execute the actions & make decisions based on the situation we've faced throughout the training session.
Organization / Activity: Players / teams based on relationships & positions. 4/5, 2 & 3 pay entry pass into the grid. They can receive the ball & circulate but can't enter the grid at any point.
Coaching Points / Plan for failure:
- Central players will fail to perform focus movement in training - discuss what occurs if player is beat in a 1v1 situation
- 2/3 will fail to be narrow & allow pass into the crossing zone - demo how narrow we want the 2/3 to be going into Houston Weekend
- 6/8 will fail to shift to protect DGC. Discuss what this looks like - bring tactical board
- Encourage reading cues & actions from training.
progression: Add 10 for focus team. Then add 9's for focus team
2012: 4-2-3-1
2009: 4-2-3-1 / 3-6-1
2010: 4-3-3 (10 becomes second 9)
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Title: Set Piece Wars (15 minutes)
Aim: Put players in a setting where they're executing set pieces both sides of the ball where the scoreline of the stage 3 is affected by the result.
Organization / Activity: Each team gets same number of reps. Game is live until the ball is out of player or past the blue line.
Progression: Add cross to mimic second phase of the set piece.
Play animation
Play step-by-step
Repeat (toggle)
Full Screen
Pause
Stop
Title: 2v2 Defending: 12 - 15 min
Coaching Points / plan for failure:
Pressure on the ball - players will move slowly out of fear of getting beat 1v1 - discuss advantage of not having time on the ball
Marking and covering + Distance between first and second defender - Players will think 'my man' discuss what happens when your team mate gets beaten here.
Tracking run and seeing ball and player transition - Discuss contact, reading cues and dealing opponent