Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defending - Body positioning and movement

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Name:	Marek Sienkiewicz
City:	MagicFootballAcademy
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 1

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Screen 1 (15 mins)

Warm Up

Escape 1v1

Organization:

-20 x 20 yard grid

-2 teams (4 Defenders-RED Players, 8 Attackers) set up as shown

-8 balls 1 ball per attacker) (Additional around the outside)

Instructions:

- Each attacking player attempts to keep possession of their ball inside the area for as long as possible.

- The defending players attempt to win the attacking players balls and pass them outside the area.

- If the attacker’s ball is kicked out they must dribble through two gates to re-enter the game.

- The idea is to get all attacking players out of the game as quickly as possible.

- Rotate defending players over a set time period, record the time a defending team knocks all attackers’ balls out of the area. Use this to motivate other groups and make it into a competition

Coaching Points:

1. Correct tackling technique

2. Bent knees

3. Body weight forward to gain possession

Progressions:

– Reduce the number of defenders

– Allow players who have their ball kicked out to work with other attackers to help keep possession of theirs

– Increase number of defending players to play 6 vs. 6

– Increase the number of gates attackers must dribble through to re-enter the game

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

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Screen 2 (15 mins)

Defensive Shadow Drill

Organisation: Use as much space as possible, and have players in pairs 15 yards apart in pairs with one ball between them.

Instructions:

1) Defender passes ball out

2) Defender sprints out in an arced run to "Close Down" attacker.

3) Defender "Slows Down" as they approach attacker so as to not outrun them, and gets into a staggered, side-on athletic position.

4) Attacker dribbles and works on their moves going forward as defender SHADOWS them and works on pivoting as attacker moves forward and side to side.

Coaching Points:

"Close down, Slow down, Show down, Shut down", close down run must be arced to take away one side of field, when defender pivots to adjust to attacker's dribbling, they must overcompensate and move to cut off other side from attacker. Don't take the ball away!

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 3

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Screen 3 (20 mins)

1v1 defending

Organisation:

20x15m grid. Defenders(red) with the ball by the cone, attackers(blue) without the ball by the other cone.

Instructions:

Red passes in to Blue and immediately gets out quickly to defend. The angle of the run is important, you have to cover the goal early and push the attacker away. Blue has to dribble through the gate (1 point), red has to force them out of the grid / win the ball and dribble over the end line (1 point).

If red just kicks the ball out - no points for either of the players.

Coaching points:

- Close down run at an angle to cover the goal

- Side on when close to the attacker

- Pivot when attacker changes direction

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 4

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Screen 4 (20 mins)

Defending when outnumbered

Organisation:

- 25x20m grid with 2 goals on each side

- 2 teams of players; red (defenders), blues (attackers)

- Attackers with a supply of balls

- Coach on the side, with a supply of balls for when the ball goes out

Instructions:

2 Teams of 4 with 4 balls per team. Each player on each team has a turn to attack. Players must choose which format to play: 1v1, 2v1, 3v2 or 4v2. This starts the thinking process. Everyone should be aware of not only their own abilities and those of their teammates and opponents, but the risk/reward for each of the formats. Once the attacking team crossed the red line, defenders run out on the pitch and defend

Successful attacks give the following points:

1v1 - 4 points

2v1 - 2 points

3v2 - 3 points

4v2 - 1 points

If the defenders win the ball and score, they get the points. If no one scores - no points for either team.

Coach can decide to kick another ball on, if the ball goes out of play too soon.

Coaching points:

This game can be modified in many ways. I have used it a lot in my Elite training sessions and it worked well. For now just have 1 or 2 players defending at the same time. Later on we can try defending as a 3 or 4 formation.

Progressions:

Defending team earns double points if they win the ball and score

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 5

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Screen 5 (20 mins)

Small sided game

Ideally have just 2 defenders on each time and get them to work as a unit

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