Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): GU18 Session - Defending

Screen 1

Functional Warm-up:

Defensive Footwork in Pairs

- Half the players w/ balls and half without

- Player on the ball moves around and dribbles and defenders have to shadow/defend the player dribbling passively.

- On coaches signal "CHANGE" the players who are defending move to a different player.

Coaching Points:

- Focus on your footwork speed

- Eye on the ball/ Body low

- Lead with your arms/Touch tight

Screen 3

1v2/2v2 Defending

- P1 passes out to A1 and then goes to defend while A2 alos steps out creating a 1v2. P2 would drop back to bcome the GK.

- If P1 wins the ball from either A1 or A2 they must play back to P2 who is GK & P1 & P2 then attack in transition creating a 2v2 game going the other way.

Coaching Points:

- Close the distance/space

- Cut off 1 option (Angle shutdown) ***Force outside always

- Quick footwork

- Eyes on the ball/ Low to the ground

- Hands/Arms out - (Engage the attacker)

- Front foot vs. back foot when steping into win ball

- Threaten the ball off front foot ("Spook")

Screen 5

SSG:

- 4 teams of 4

- 4 minute games

- Focus will be on not getting split