Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defensive Agility and body shape (Start Time: 2022-09-12 16:00:00)

Pitch Layout

Organisation:

Set up 2 x 7v7 sixed pitches for end of the session

set up 3 lines of 7 markers, with a centre line of different colour.

Set up 2 more additional lines of markers to create 5 lanes 10yard in width.

Equipment List:

1 ball per 2 players

30 marker cones, minimum 7 different colour

2 x 7 a side goals

Physical Performance (15 mins)

Tag & Escape

Organisation:

As seen in diagram

Practice 1

• Reactive agility practice, pairs of players face off against each other either side of a flat marker
• The aim of the game is for players to tap their opponents knee while evading their counterparts attempted taps
• Players need to adjust feet & body shape as they make their attacking moves and readjust quickly to defend and avoid being tapped
• Players remain on their side of the flat marker, weighing up risk & reward of attacking their opponent

Practice 2

• Using a similar set up to P1, with the addition of cones either side of the central flat markers, players compete in a reactive agility race
• Pairs of players face each other across one central marker. One is allocated 'leader' and initiates the movement - either left or right and this is copied by the 'follower'
• Players much touch the outer cone before racing back to the centre

Progressions -
1. add a ball, can player fake and move to beat defender to outer cone
Coaching Detail -
Encourage followers to scan movements of leaders to try and understand which way they're going to go. Be set and low in stance ready to change direction quickly. Control deceleration on way back to central cone, stop on cone not past it.


SSG 7V7 (30 mins)

Organisation:

Using the 7V7 pitch set up at the beginning of the session, split the group into 2 teams of 7

The Games:

Allow the players to play free but encourage the defensive shape & Playing the FTU way.