Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Morris Elite Defending

Technical - Closing Down/Block Tackling (10 mins)

Organization:

1. 20x20 area.

2. Players work in pairs.

3. Balls set up halfway between pairs.

Instructions:

1. Players look to close down on the ball together.

2. Focus on body shape, proper stance, and angle of approach.

3. Players look to mirror each other before returning to start line.

4. After a few minutes, players perform a block tackle at the ball.

Coaching Points:

1. Speed and angle of approach.

2. Proper defensive stance - "surfer" position.

3. Close space quickly and slow down on approach.

4. Block tackle - lock ankle, use inside of foot.

Progressions:

1. Ensure players work on both sides.

1v1 to endzone (15 mins)

Organization:

Continuous 1v1, recap of 1v1 attacking principles

Instructions:

Defender(in red) plays the ball to Player 1 across the area and closes the ball down, trying to win the ball from Player 1.

If the defender wins the ball and get through the gate that is 1 point.

- If the defender wins the ball high and gets into endzone they get 2 points

The objective for the attacking player is to dribble into endzone and stop the ball

-Players switch sides after each turn.

Coaching Points:

Deny penetration

2. Speed of approach

3. Angle of approach, force player on to weak side

4. Correct moment to tackl e

5. Faint to tackle to force a mist ake

6. Tackling t echnique

Attacker

Attacking the defender / space at speed

Recognition of space / defender

Recognition of defenders body shape

Movement of ball / body to unbalance

Distance / direction of final touch

Make a move to find a way around defender

seal defender off

Progressions:

4v4v4 transition (20 mins)

Organization:

3 teams of 4

Instructions:

The first team to connect 4 passes is looking to switch the ball to the waiting team. The team that does not get 4 passes is sent over to defende the new offensive team. Each time a team sends the ball over it counts as a point.

-can either be switched with a long ball or by passing to someone in the neutral zone. I

Coaching Points:

CLose the space quickly,

Know when to press and when to drop off

Force to a side/where help is off the ball

If we lose possession, can we win it back quickly?

Regression:

Start with defensive team playing with 1-2 players in transition zone waiting( if team has 5, start with 3 in plaing zone and 2 in transition zone. If they have 4, start with 1).