Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending

FAW Coach Ed

Rhys Holt

Profile Summary

Name:	Rhys Holt
City:	Ewloe
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

Organisation (Practice Layout & Transition)

Set up a 30x24 area to split into 3 parts (10x8).

Have goals near by for the second part of the session.

Have bibs and split into typical defenders and attacking players.

Begin with 3 groups of 4 players, 2 attackers, 2 defenders.

Players get a lot of opportunity to practice their defensive skills as well as dribbling head on with an opponents.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defending 3 Zones

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Defending 3 Zones (20 mins)

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Start with 2v2 to allow the players to get used to the scenario. Progress onto 2v1 (2 attackers)

Regress to 1v2 if defenders are struggling against the extra opponent

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Challenge players to utilise the extra man when possible, through passes and positive off the ball movement.

Once the ball goes out it restarts at the line of the side that started with it.

In 2v1 situations, attackers have 7 seconds maximum to score.

Score by getting the the baseline of the opponent's starting position.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defenders vs Attackers

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Defenders vs Attackers (20 mins)

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Defenders play the ball into the attackers to start the sequence. The aim is to close the defender down in that middle section.

Begin with 1v1, the attackers cannot score outside of the final third, and if the defender wins the ball back they have the chance to go and score in the defender's goal.

Progress onto 2v1, 2v2, 3v2 etc. After a few rounds of 3v3 have the teams swap roles.

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Can the defenders show the attackers to the outside and block the way through the middle of the area.

Closing down needs to be quick and identify the mechanics of closing down:

Quick to the man slowing a couple meters away

Knees bent

Side on, leading the attacker to their weaker side.

Eyes on the ball

Jockeying the man until an opportunity to block or tackle arises.

If attackers lose the ball their objective is to then stop the defenders from scoring, if they win the ball back the ball is dead and the next group go.