Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defending as a Block pressing together on the 1st defenders cue

Screen 1

A

Total 15mins

Two 25m x 25m squares with 8 players for each area. 5 v 3 in each square

Defenders stay in middle for 1 min then rotate players, (swap bibs) continue this until all players have a turn in the middle.

Every intercept is 1 point for defenders.

5 passers to attackers is -1 point to defenders.

Keep a total.

Ask defenders to work together and try and force the ball 1 way for a mistake.

1st defender goes towards attacker with the ball, trying to forsce the ball movement 1 way, get attacker with the ball to put thier head down, to produce a mistake for a intercept

2nd defender moves into a postion to prevent a long vertical pass and if possible close enough to a attacker that if a pass is made the defender can arrive at the same time as the ball or maybe make an intercept 

3rd defender tp provide cover in case the vertical pass is made 

B

FIFA 11 warm-up

Screen 3

C

Total 30mins

8 v 8

50m long x 45m wide.

The middle 1/3 is 25m wide, outer 1/3s 10m each.

1-2-4-1 formation for each team. Teams start in this formation, as in the diagram.

Start the game Blue V Orange.

After a goal is scored all players return to their starting positions and the team that scored starts with the ball from the GK

Encourage defenders to work together as a compact unit.

Tasks 

Get 1st Defender to force the opposition down 1 side and keep them on that side of the field.

2nd Defenders stay compact and prevent a forward pass to the attacker's feet/central area or forward.

3rd Defender to be cover in case that forward pass is produced.

Cues

1 As GK passes the ball to CB can the defending striker arch his run as he closes down to prevent a switch of play or back to GK.

When this happens can the 2nd defender stay compact, shutting down the passing lanes to prevent a forward pass and the 3rd defender prevent a forward pass and be cover in case a successful forward pass is made.

2 If a player further up the pitch receives the ball can a defender close them down and try and get the attacker to drop his head and get them to face their own GK.

As this happens can the other defenders close the passing lanes/options so the attacker has to go backwards.

3 When 2nd or 3rd defenders position themselves can they be in a position to prevent a forward pass(priority) and be able to arrive at the same time as ball being passed to the attacking player their marking.

4 As these things happen encourage lots of talk between defenders to keep their defensive shape = 1st,2nd, and 3rd defenders including GK position

5 When a team or a player/players do it correctly, either replay correct behavior or praise while the session continues 

6 Defender's body shape to encourage play oneway

7 Be balanced on the ball of their feet

An option if needed to encourage the behavior wanted is as follows.

When the ball is area 1 defenders must be in area 1 or 2

When the ball is area 2 defenders must be in area 2

When the ball is area 3 defenders must be in area 2 or 3

After a goal is scored all player's return to their starting positions and the team that scored starts with the ball from the GK