Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Pressure Cover technique/skill after losing Possession

Defending technique warmup (15 mins)

Organization:

12 players

2 Teams of 6

Detail:

Player starts between two cones and makes run 1 to first cone

Player closes down quickly, gets low then retreats back defensively to start position

Repeats for runs 2 and 3

After 3rd retreating run, pass through cone and side run(still facing forward)back and around back cone for run 4

turn around back cone moving forward now for clearing header

Once player heads the ball he gets in line as a thrower

Progression:

Same as above but instead of heading ball out, make a lane along each side and add a small net behind last cone for players to go 1v1

Pressure Cover tactical (20 mins)

Organization:

20x20 Grid-5 Yard lanes breaking the Grid in to 4 lanes

two teams

Details:

Three players from each team in each of their two lanes

Ball is played in from the server to one of the teams, team with the ball is trying to link up with the other three to earn a point-defending team in between cannot cross the line but mimics defensive movements of pressure/cover to cut down passing lanes

if defending team wins the ball, they are then trying to connect with the other three from their team

Switch the players around every 3 minutes

Coaching points:

Have the players begin to think about pressure/cover movements to cut down passing lanes and intercept the through pass

6v6smg (20 mins)

Detail:

Play starts with yellow team making lateral pass

Black team pressures ball

Yellow team tries to score on net.

Coaching Points and Triggers:

FOCUS IS ON SECONDARY DEFENDER

1. 1rst Defender: Delay and Direct, communicate I've got ball!

2. 2nd Defender: Recognize trigger from first Defender and provide Cover - cut passing lane/angle of support

3. Trigger of When to commit - Bad touche, pass back, head down

4. Communication by secondary defender

5. attacking player sets up for shot around box: Triggers PRIMARY defender to get block

QUESTIONS:

1. When to provide support(double up)? 1v1 in our def third against strong player taking a shot, opportunity to pin against sideline or end line etc

2. When to provide cover? When primary player steps to pressure the ball, secondary defender MUST provide cover