Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Individual Defense (shadowing) (Start Time: 2025-09-08 17:30:00)

Shadow (5 mins)

Activity Description (5’):
You will need a delimited area, bibs, and two teams.

The team is divided into two groups, and it is explained —or rather reminded— that if you were someone’s shadow, you could not separate from your owner. Now, we divide into “shadows” and “owners.” The owners want to be free, so they move around the field trying to avoid being followed by their shadow.

When the shadow manages to tag their owner, they switch roles. At the coach’s signal, the shadow has 5 seconds to try to tag their owner. If the shadow succeeds within that time, they swap roles; if not, everyone keeps their role.

Remember to give recovery time (light jogging), and before giving the signal, all players must already be in motion.

Objectives and Rules:

• Foster integration, fun, and warming up through play.

• Introduce the concept of shadowing, which for us represents individual defending.

• No pushing or dangerous gestures that could put players’ safety at risk.

Progression:

• Vary the field dimensions depending on the number of players.

• The game can also be played with balls: instead of tagging, the shadow must steal the ball. In that case, roles are switched.

Individual Defending Drill: 3 players, 5 minutes (10 mins)

Activity Description (5’):
You need to form trios and separate them by about 10 meters (minimum). Work in turns: one player passes the ball, another acts as a statue (cannot move), and the third is the defender positioned behind the statue.

When the player with the ball passes, the defender anticipates.

Objectives and Rules:

• The goal is to train anticipation and understanding of individual defense.

• Each player performs 10 repetitions, 5 on each side.

• No pushing or dangerous gestures that could endanger other players.

Key Points:

• The defender stays close to the player — it’s okay if the opposing player feels your presence.

• Position yourself so you can see the ball, never starting in front of it.

• Remember the three important principles: 1) Position, 2) Anticipation, 3) Waiting time.

Progression:

• Increase the distance between the passer and their teammates.

• Instruct the statue player to perform passive defense (gesture as if going for the ball, but without taking it).

Individual Defending Match: Double-Sided Area (5 mins)

Activity Description (7’):
Four teams of three players plus two goalkeepers. The field is marked as a double area with two goals.

Play 3v3 with the goalkeepers remaining in their positions. Each game lasts 1 minute, followed by 30 seconds of recovery. Inside the field, players apply individual defense, except for the goalkeepers. Goalkeepers cannot score. The result of each game is added to the score of the team’s next match. At the end, the overall winning team is determined.

Objectives and Rules:

• Focus on individual defense and anticipation.

• In attack, encourage support from the goalkeeper.

• When the ball goes out, the goalkeeper of the team that did not kick it out restarts play.

Progression:

• Increase the duration of each game.

• Increase the number of players on the field.