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Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): SSE - Defending the Ball - Jockeying Session

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Southside Eagles Football Club

Sam Gahan

Profile Summary

Sam Gahan
Name: Sam Gahan
City: Brisbane
Country: Australia
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Description

Under 10s & Under 11s

Cycle:1

Week: 5
Session: 1

Key Aims of Session:

  • Develop jockeying technique to effectively pressure the attacker and force mistakes.
  • Improve defensive footwork—staying balanced, controlling movement, and avoiding overcommitting.
  • Reinforce body positioning—staying low, reading the attacker's movement, and cutting off passing lanes.
  • Apply defensive principles in 1v1, 2v1, and overload scenarios, focusing on delaying play and forcing attackers wide.
  • Develop decision-making in defensive moments—knowing when to jockey, when to step in, and when to press with more intensity.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Skill Warm-Up

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Skill Warm-Up
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Skill Warm-Up

Technical Skill: Defending the Ball

Technical Sub-Skill: Jockeying the Ball

Main Focus: Pressuring to Force a Mistake

Drill 1: Skill Warm-Up (Agility Warm-Up for Defenders)

Explanation:

This warm-up focuses on movements defenders make during games, emphasizing footwork, body positioning, and agility when jockeying to force an opponent into a mistake. Players will work on lateral movement, quick stops, and transitioning into jockeying movements in realistic defensive scenarios.

Setup:

  • Zigzag cone pattern set at 45-degree angles (1.5–2 meters apart).
  • Players perform defensive-specific agility movements both forward and backward to replicate pressuring and recovering movements.

Execution:

1. Side-Stepping at 45 Degrees

  • Players side-step between cones, always facing forward.
  • Repeat movement backward while still facing forward.
  • Key Focus: Stay low, knees bent, feet should not cross over.

2. Sprint, Stop & Jockey

  • Players sprint forward toward a designated marker and stop quickly.
  • Immediately transition into backward jockeying at a 45-degree angle, maintaining defensive positioning.
  • Repeat in both directions.
  • Key Focus: Controlled stopping, fluid transitions, and maintaining defensive posture.

Key Messages:

  • Get an arm’s length away from the opponent.
  • Set in a low position (knees bent).
  • Work the feet in relation to the ball—quick, controlled steps without crossing over.
  • Swing hips in different directions to adjust to attacker movements.
  • Stay in front of the ball at all times.
  • No leg swings—focus on precise defensive positioning.

Number of Players: Flexible (Individual or small group setup).

Duration: 6 reps x 4 sets.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Skill Game 1

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Skill Game 1
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Skill Game 1 (20 mins)

Technical Skill: Defending the Ball

Technical Sub-Skill: Jockeying the Ball

Main Focus: Pressuring to Force a Mistake

Skill Game 1: 2v1 Pressuring to Force a Mistake

Organization:

  • Set-Up:
    • 1 mini goal for the attacking team
    • 2 mini goals for the defending team
    • Defender starts with the ball and passes to an attacker to begin play.

Instructions:

  • Defender plays a pass to the attacking player to start the game.
  • The attacker can go 1v1 or pass to a teammate within two touches to create a 2v1 situation.
  • Rotate defenders & attackers each set.
Scoring System:

  • Attackers score 1 point for a goal.
  • Defenders score 2 points for a goal (winning the ball and transitioning to attack).

Progression:

Start the game as a 2v1 from the beginning rather than the attacker deciding whether to pass or go 1v1.

Coaching Points & Questions:

  • How do we read the attacker's body positioning and eye movement?
  • When should we press with more intensity versus delaying the attacker?
  • How does our body shape influence the attacker’s decisions?

Key Messages: (Reinforcing defensive principles from the warm-up)

✔ Get an arm’s length away from the attacker.
✔ Stay low (knees bent) to react quickly.
✔ Work the feet—adjust position relative to the ball.
✔ Swing hips in different directions to control movement.
✔ Stay in front of the ball at all times.
✔ No leg swings—focus on precise defensive positioning.

Number of Players: Minimum 3 per group (1 defender, 2 attackers).

Duration: 15 minutes total

  • 4 rounds of 3 minutes (1-minute rest between rounds)
  • Encourage players to reflect on positioning & timing between rounds
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Intervention Drill

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Intervention Drill
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Intervention Drill

Technical Skill: Defending the Ball

Technical Sub-Skill: Jockeying the Ball

Main Focus: Pressuring to Force a Mistake


Intervention Game: 1v1 Jockeying & Pressuring to Force a Mistake

Organization 

  • Set-Up:
    • Two playing areas, each with six pairs (12 players total).
    • Attacking player (Player 1) starts with the ball.
    • Defender (Player 2) aims to slow play down and prevent Player 1 from passing the cones.
    • If the defender gets a touch on the ball, the play is dead.

Instructions:

  • Player 1 tries to dribble past Player 2 and cross the cones without losing possession.
  • Player 2 applies pressure by jockeying, delaying the attack, and looking for a chance to win the ball.
  • If Player 2 touches or wins the ball, the play stops immediately.
  • Players reset, switch roles after a set number of reps.

Progression:

Introduce a points system -

  • 1 point if Player 1 beats the defender.
  • 1 point if Player 2 tackles or stops the attacker.
  • Each pair keeps track of their points, and the losing player completes a forfeit (e.g., quick sprint, push-ups, or jumps).

Coaching Points:

  • Delay & contain the attacker rather than diving in.
  • Jockey & stay balanced—small, controlled steps.
  • Keep the attacker in front of you—don’t let them turn easily.
  • Look for cues to step in & win the ball (bad touch, slow movement).
  • Force attacker into predictable areas (towards weaker foot or into pressure).

Key Messages: (Reinforcing defensive principles from previous drills)

  • Get an arm’s length away from the attacker.
  • Stay in a low position (knees bent) to react quickly.
  • Work the feet in relation to the ball—controlled, disciplined movement.
  • Stay in front of the ball at all times.
  • No leg swings—focus on precise defensive positioning.

Number of Players: Minimum 2

Duration: 10 minutes total

4x 2 minutes (30 seconds rest between rounds)

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Skill Game 2

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Skill Game 2
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Skill Game 2 (15 mins)

Technical Skill: Defending the Ball

Technical Sub-Skill: Jockeying the Ball

Main Focus: Pressuring to Force a Mistake

Skill Game 2: Overload Game (6v5 with Neutral Player in Attack)


Organization:

  • Set-Up:
    • 6v5 game (or adjusted based on numbers).
    • Overload is created by a neutral player who always plays for the attacking team.

Instructions:

  • Normal game rules apply, but defenders are always outnumbered due to the neutral player.
  • Defenders must focus on delaying attacks, jockeying, and forcing mistakes.
  • Neutral player moves freely, always supporting the attacking team, making the defending team's structure and positioning critical.
  • Defenders should work to force the attacking team into predictable areas (towards the sideline or into cover).

Coaching Points:

  • Close down quickly but under control—don’t overcommit.
  • Jockey and force the attacker into predictable areas (toward the sideline or into cover).
  • Delay the attack—stay compact and make it difficult to play through.
  • Use body positioning to cut off passing lanes to the neutral player.
  • Look for opportunities to block tackles rather than diving in.
  • Defend with intensity and aggression when the moment is right to win the ball.

Key Messages: (Reinforcing defensive principles from previous drills)

  • Get an arm’s length away from the attacker.
  • Stay in a low position (knees bent) to react quickly.
  • Work the feet in relation to the ball—controlled, disciplined movement.
  • Stay in front of the ball at all times.
  • No leg swings—focus on precise defensive positioning.

Number of Players: 6v5 (neutral player always in attack).

Duration: 20 minutes total

2 x 8minutes - 2minutes Rest (Coaching Time)

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