Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Team Defending

3v3 waves of attack (20 mins)

1/2 pitch.  Waves of attack towards big goal with transition opportunity for defending team towards small goal.

Part 1: Pitch is split in half and waves of 3v3 are delivered. Defending team get success if they win it and clear/score or show across line of red line

Parts 2: Full pitch now utilised for waves of 6v6

Coaching Points:

- Individual Defending
- Cover & Balance
- Show away from goal

Full pitch-phase of play (30 mins)

Full pitch game 11v11

Option 1: Full Back Show Wide / 1v1 Defending

Option 2: Centre Back Cover / Ball in Behind

Option 3: Midfield Breach

Option 4: Midfield Cover / FB Overlap

Coaching Points:

Prevent the opposition playing forward.

When out of possession, players should look to prevent the opposition from playing forwards by pressing the ball and recovering to providing cover and balance. Pressing the ball allows little time for the opposition to make decision allowing more mistakes to occur.

Stay compact.

Players to remain compact as a unit and team to try to suffocate the ball and the man in possession to force mistakes or force the attacking team to play backwards. Defenders should focus on sliding and screen to provide the correct balance on both sides of the pitch. The defending team also need to use verbal and non-verbal communication to balance and cover also.

Decision making.

To prevent attacks, defenders should make decisions to either man mark (in specific areas to force the play back or encourage mistakes, whilst looking to intercept the ball) or press the passing lines (by getting their body in between the man in possession and the potential receiver of the ball to try and intercept the ball).