Create your own Session Planns with stunning 3D in minutes Hundreds of soccer sessions in a searchable database Compile ready-made drills into your own session in seconds Adapt ready-made drills to make a customised session in moments Post on your website, e-mail to friends, link to non-Members, view on your phone Sport Session Planner: for a low yearly subscription, click here to join!

Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defensive Principles- Defending (Breaking lines)

Club Logo

Premier Users' Club

Garland Cannon

Profile Summary

Garland Cannon
Name: Garland Cannon
City: Easton
Country: United States of America
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
Build 3D sessions in seconds
Access to 1000’s of sessions
Professionalise and modernise your coaching
Used by the world’s best coaches
US$
75
per year
Join today

Description

Organisation                       Dealing with Opposition #10

  • Field Dimensions: 48W x 60L (outlined with red flats, midfield outlined with purple flats) 
  • 2 mini goals to one end line for defensive team to score in.  1 Big goal on the end line for the attacking team to score in.
  • 7 defenders(red) plus a goalkeeper and 8 attackers(Blue). 
  • Attackers start with the ball on midfield line(purple flats) and attempt to score on the big goal. #10 is very active
  • Defending team aim to keep their defensive shape and prevent attacking team from playing through them and scoring. 
  • OUR(RED) #6 monitors and stays close the the (BLUE) #10- forcing him backwards, denying him the Ball if possible
  • If defending team win the ball back, they aim to score in one of the small goals on the halfway line. If successful they get 2 points per goal.
  • If goalkeeper collects the ball, look for the outlet and try score in one of the mini goals.  
  • When ball goes out, play restarts from the coach at the midfield line with the attacking team.    
  • Aim
  • Prevent attacking team from playing through defensive lines- Protect central passing lines 

Be difficult to break down. 

Protect central area and the goal. 

Defensive Principles 

  • Force opposition to play wide and away from goal, backwards, or sideways. 
  • Block central passes.
  • Protect the space between the lines, be compact and don't allow space in between for opponents to drift into. 
  • Don't allow players time to turn. Make them play the way they face. 
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 1

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 1
Save Image: Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 1 Create Video:

Screen 1

Organisation

  • Field Dimensions: 72W x 52L (5th's outlined with red flats, Backline markers outlined with purple flats)
  • 2 mini goals at midfield line for defensive team to score in.  1 Big goal on the end line for the attacking team to score in.
  • 6 defenders(red) plus a goalkeeper and 8 attackers(Blue).
  • Attackers start with the ball on midfield line and attempt to score on the big goal.
  • Defending team aim to keep their defensive shape and prevent attacking team from breaking lines(Protect Central) and scoring.
  • If defending team win the ball back, they aim to score in one of the mini goals on the halfway line. If successful they get 2 points per goal.
  • If goalkeeper collects the ball, look for the outlet and try score in one of the mini goals.  
  • When ball goes out, play restarts from the coach at the midfield line with the attacking team.    
  • Aim
  • Prevent attacking team from playing through defensive lines- Protect central passing lines

Be difficult to break down.

Protect central area and the goal.

Defensive Principles

  • Force opposition to play wide and away from goal, backwards, or sideways.
  • Block central passes.
  • Protect the space between the lines, be compact and don't allow space in between for opponents to drift into.
  • Don't allow players time to turn. Make them play the way they face.
  • Body Positioning-Communication
Problem 1: Attacking team(4-3-3) utilizes overloads in the wide area=Players

Solution 1: Back four has to slide as a Unit as the ball travels, Providing Pressure on the Ball as well as giving him Cover, if they recycle the Ball, the 2 CM and Back four need to Gain Ground(Close Space).

Problem 2: Attacking team(4-3-3) will be Encouraged to Overload and Attack Centrally (Creating a 3v2 in Midfield)= 3 Touch Max

Solution 2: Back four stays tight side to side, 2 Cm must keep play in front of them and force them Backwards

Adaptation (Progression/Regression):

Progression: Remove channels and play full half. Defending team now have more space to deal with. Recognize when to press and how to keep structure/shape.

Regression: Bring channels in to the edge of the box. Limits space for attacking players and it allows defenders to keep structure/shape and to protect the goal.

Challenges-Conditions-Targets

Challenge: Can the defenders prevent attacking team from scoring Can they make it difficult, forcing the attacking team Wide or Backwards. 

Challenge: Can the defenders prevent attacking players from playing through their lines Centrally. 

Challenge: Can then defenders tackle and win possession, advance the game and score in one of the mini goals by linking passes to play out in 6s or if its on dribble and drive forward over the the line one cut of the D. Which is a reference for the unit attacking team turn away from goal, play a slow pass or have a poor touch. 

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 2

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 2
Save Image: Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 2 Create Video:

Screen 2

Organisation

  • Field Dimensions: 72W x 52L (5th's outlined with red flats, Backline markers outlined with purple flats)
  • 2 mini goals at midfield line for defensive team to score in.  1 Big goal on the end line for the attacking team to score in.
  • 6 defenders(red) plus a goalkeeper and 8 attackers(Blue).
  • Attackers start with the ball on midfield line and attempt to score on the big goal.
  • Defending team aim to keep their defensive shape and prevent attacking team from breaking lines(Protect Central) and scoring.
  • If defending team win the ball back, they aim to score in one of the mini goals on the halfway line. If successful they get 2 points per goal.
  • If goalkeeper collects the ball, look for the outlet and try score in one of the mini goals.  
  • When ball goes out, play restarts from the coach at the midfield line with the attacking team.    
  • Aim
  • Prevent attacking team from playing through defensive lines- Protect central passing lines

Be difficult to break down.

Protect central area and the goal.

Defensive Principles

  • Force opposition to play wide and away from goal, backwards, or sideways.
  • Block central passes.
  • Protect the space between the lines, be compact and don't allow space in between for opponents to drift into.
  • Don't allow players time to turn. Make them play the way they face.
  • Body Positioning-Communication
Problem 1: Attacking team(4-3-3) utilizes overloads in the wide area.

Solution 1: Back four has to slide as a Unit as the ball travels, Providing Pressure on the Ball as well as giving him Cover, if they recycle the Ball, the 2 CM and Back four need to Gain Ground(Close Space).

Problem 2: Attacking team(4-3-3) will be Encouraged to Overload and Attack Centrally (Creating a 3v2 in Midfield)

Solution 2: Back four stays tight side to side, 2 Cm must keep play in front of them and force them Backwards

Adaptation (Progression/Regression):

Progression: Remove channels and play full half. Defending team now have more space to deal with. Recognize when to press and how to keep structure/shape.

Regression: Bring channels in to the edge of the box. Limits space for attacking players and it allows defenders to keep structure/shape and to protect the goal.

Challenges-Conditions-Targets

Challenge: Can the defenders prevent attacking team from scoring Can they make it difficult, forcing the attacking team Wide or Backwards. 

Challenge: Can the defenders prevent attacking players from playing through their lines Centrally. 

Challenge: Can then defenders tackle and win possession, advance the game and score in one of the mini goals by linking passes to play out in 6s or if its on dribble and drive forward over the the line one cut of the D. Which is a reference for the unit attacking team turn away from goal, play a slow pass or have a poor touch. 

Build 3D sessions in seconds
Access to 1000’s of sessions
Professionalise and modernise your coaching
Used by the world’s best coaches
US$
75
per year
Join today

© Copyright 2026 Sport Session Planner Ltd.

Animation Controls (PCs, Macs, Laptops):

Play animation
Play step-by-step
Repeat (toggle)
Full Screen
Pause
Stop

Back/Forward: Drag timeline button