Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): SSE - Defending the Ball - Jockeying Session
Southside Eagles Football Club
Sam Gahan
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.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
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.
- 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
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
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)
See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
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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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:
Execution:
1. Side-Stepping at 45 Degrees
2. Sprint, Stop & Jockey
Key Messages:
Number of Players: Flexible (Individual or small group setup).
Duration: 6 reps x 4 sets.