Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defending Tactics

Turn & Burn (10 mins)

SET UP: The field is split into two equal halves with a dividing centre line. The players are position in pairs across the grid from their partner. All the players have a ball and on the coaches command of go, they dribble toward the centre line before turning again on the coaches command. 

INSTRUCTIONS: The coach will dictate the play with a call to 'turn' and the players should either execute a turn of the coaches choosing (demonstration) or their favourite turn and retreat to the start line. The coach may request this action several times in one sequence - hence lots of turns.

You can also have the players perform a skill move at centre and dribble fast to the other side to perform a turn and then return to their line with another move at half.

OPTIONS: A progression is to have just one partner with a ball and encroaching the centre line. Then on the coaches command of 'burn', the opponent without the ball will run across the field and challenge to win the ball off their partner before the ball carrier returns to the safety line at the beginning.

Another progression would be giving one point if the player returns back across the line and 3 points if the player can make it to the opposite side. The roles should be switched up to allow lots of repetitions with the partners. The coach will control the tempo of this session and may request many turns at the same time. The technical focus is dribbling, turning and running with the ball.

KEY FACTORS:

- Change of direction

- Change of speed

- Anticipation

SSG (20 mins)

Instructions:

Shadow play inside the final third. Work on the defensive shape and how to shift and deny access through the middle.

If the defending team wins the ball, they can dribble past the half way line for 2 points or shoot to score in the mini goals for one point.

Coaching Points:

Pressure, Cover, Balance

Force them outside

Progressions:

Increase the number of defenders until its even numbers.