Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Intensive_Skill_Development_Defending_Unbalanced (Start Time: 2019-10-03 17:00:00)

Warm Up (15 mins)

THE SESSION: Big Grab

Set Up: 15x15 x2

One player guards both gates

Two lines of players either side of the gates

All other players have a bib tucked into the back of their shorts

Players have to get through gate without the tagger grabbing the bib

If the tagger gets your bibs then you become the tagger

If you get through then defender must turn around to attempt to stop player from the other side

If caught you must face the other way to face the next runner

Key Messages:

Fake one direction to go to the other

Change of pace is important

Possession Transition (20 mins)

THE SESSION: Possession Transition

Set Up: 16x16 x 2

4 v 2 in the box (one pair defender on the outside)

Each side has a small goal/gate

Reds look to keep possession of the ball and make 10 passes before they score

Blues look to win ball back, if they do they can score in any of the four goals

Every time a ball leaves the area the new defender comes onto the field and a replaces one currently in the middle

Play two minutes, team with least amount of points has to do a punishment

Key Messages:

Stay compact as a two

Don't allow reds to play through

Press as a pair

Ark runs to set traps

When in possession attack goal quickly

Competiton:

Have two groups of four and swap them over after a couple of minutes. Group of four with the most goals combined wins

Defending 2 (20 mins)

THE SESSION: Recovering Defenders

Set Up: 18x24 x 2

Three attackers and one defender on the field with one defender in the end zone

Coach playing the ball into one of the three attackers

Once the attacker takes his first touch the defender in the end zone can track back

Blues look to score in the small goal and if reds win the ball back they try to get the ball into the end zone

New players enter the field after every ball - one attacker leaves and one joins

Defenders rotate roles - Defender A goes to C and rest, defender B becomes defender A and defender C becomes defender B

Change over roles every couple of minutes

Key Messages:

Delay and predict

Deflect away from goal

Deny passes - cut off other players

Destroy once 2v3

Don't always recover to the ball - where is the space for defenders to exploit

Quick transition into end zone

Progressions:

Flip so reds attack 1v2 with two recovering defenders

Competition:

Defending pair with the most end zone goals