Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): 7v7 Defending - Preventing Opponent Build Up in Their Half

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Barcelona United

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Name:	Barcelona United
City:	Pickerington
Country:	United States of America
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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

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Warm Up

BARCELONA UNITED WARM UP (15 Minutes)

OBJECTIVE: To prepare players for training session.
ORGANIZATION: Need roughly 5x15 yard space per setup. Need six cones, at start place two cones to create a gate, in middle 5 yards from the gate place three cones(~1.5 yards apart), the last cone is 5 yards from last cone in the middle. Target 3-4 per line.
KEY WORDS: Focus, Effort, Awareness
SUGGESTED/EXAMPLE WARM UPs: 1) In gate - toe taps, popcorn, run in place, etc. 2) Initiate on whistle(following players go on whistle or after player in front reaches a certain point). 3) Sprint, jog, skip, side shuffle, etc. from gate to middle section. 4) Two Feet Together Hop, Side Shuffle, High Knees, etc. over each cone. 5) Sprint, jog, skips, etc. to last cone. 6) Go around last cone sprint, back pedal, etc. to end of line.
NOTES: Coaches are encouraged to vary activities, e.g. dribble ball through setup, right/left foot only, etc.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Activity 1

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Activity 1

ACTIVITY 1: Defender Movement (15 Minutes)

OBJECTIVE: To deny chances; Get and Stay Compact
ORGANIZATION: Mark out 30x30 yard square and a 10x10 yard square in the center. There are 3 teams of 3 players. Team Red starts in center box, and goal is to prevent through passes from two other teams. The White and Yellow teams, can dribble and move within the 30x30 yard box but not outside of it or inside the 10x10 yd box. Points are scored for successful interceptions from the interior team and successful pass through the middle square to teammates. Rotate every 5 minutes.
KEY WORDS: Stay Compact, Cover, Move with the Ball
GUIDED QUESTIONS: 1) How can you keep the opponent from breaking through on the wing and scoring? 2) How should you position yourselves to do that? 3) What’s your job when you’re the defender closest to the ball? 4) When do you step to pressure the ball?
ANSWERS: 1) Get compact on the side where the ball is at. 2) Move with the ball 3) Stop the ball carrier. 4) When the attacker 's head down or takes a bad touch.
NOTES: Coach asks questions, players continue playing to discover answers. Break: Players share answers with coach and each other.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Activity 2

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Activity 2

ACTIVITY 2: 1v1 (20 Minutes)

OBJECTIVE: To deny chances; 1v1
ORGANIZATION: Mark out 10x10 yard squares for two players per box. Red will start, Red and White pass 5 times, after 5th pass Red will attempt to steal ball from White within 6 seconds. Play resumes with White starting the 5 passes, and then tries to steal from Red within 6 seconds. Continues for the duration of activity.
KEY WORDS: Pressure, Balance/Cover, Move with the Ball
GUIDED QUESTIONS: 1) How can you keep the opponent from breaking through on the wing and scoring? 2) How should you position yourselves to do that? 3) What’s your job when you’re the defender closest to the ball? 4) When do you step to pressure the ball?
ANSWERS: 1) Get compact on the side where the ball is at. 2) Move with the ball 3) Stop the ball carrier. 4) When the attacker 's head down or takes a bad touch.
NOTES: Coach asks questions, players continue playing to discover answers. Break: Players share answers with coach and each other.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Activity 2 Progression

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Activity 2 Progression

ACTIVITY 2: 1v1 (20 Minutes)

OBJECTIVE: To deny chances; 1v1
ORGANIZATION: Mark out 10x20 yard squares progression from previous Activity. Red starts with the ball, passes to White. White dribbles and attempts to score by dribble across the opposing end line and Red attempts to steal and score on opposite end line. Players switch sides after each attempt.
KEY WORDS: Pressure, Balance/Cover, Move with the Ball
GUIDED QUESTIONS: 1) How can you keep the opponent from breaking through on the wing and scoring? 2) How should you position yourselves to do that? 3) What’s your job when you’re the defender closest to the ball? 4) When do you step to pressure the ball?
ANSWERS: 1) Get compact on the side where the ball is at. 2) Move with the ball 3) Stop the ball carrier. 4) When the attacker 's head down or takes a bad touch.
NOTES: Coach asks questions, players continue playing to discover answers. Break: Players share answers with coach and each other.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Activity 3

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Activity 3

Activity 3 20 minutes

Moment Defending
Objective: To prevent the opponent from building up, win the ball back and score.
Player Actions: Steal • Get compact • Stay compact
Key Qualities: Read game/make decisions • Initiative • Focus
Organization: Mark out a 36X45 yard field and include the build-out line. 6 Reds (2-3-1) attack large goal vs. 6 reds (1-2-3) to two small goals. Mostly begin from White goal kick, but vary the restarts (from GK hands, throw-ins, play Red team attack, etc). Play for 20 minutes with 1-2 breaks.
Keywords::Hunt the ball, stay together, move together
Guided Questions:1) Who should pressure the opponent with the ball? 2)When do you step to steal the ball? 3) How do you step to steal the ball? 4) Why do the other defenders need to get compact and stay connected?
Answers:1) The closest defender. 2)When the attacker's head is down, takes a bad touch, or makes a soft pass. 3) Fast approach (long steps) while the ball is moving, and then slow arrival (short steps) when close. 4) To keep openings closed and keep them closed by moving together.
Notes:Start with the Core Activity after the first Play Phase. If it's too difficult, switch to the Less Challenging Activity. If it's too easy, switch to the More Challenging Activity. Spend a total of 20 minutes in the Practice Phase.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Activity 3 Less Challenging

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Activity 3 Less Challenging

Moment Defending

Objective: To prevent the opponent from building up, win the ball back and score.
Player Actions: Steal • Get compact • Stay compact
Key Qualities: Read game/make decisions • Initiative • Focus
Organization: Same as core activity, except with just one 15-yard goal line in the middle. Be sure to vary restarts from the red team (goal kick, from GK hands, throw-ins, start with white team, etc). Play for 20 minutes with 1-2 breaks.
Keywords::Hunt the ball, stay together, move together
Guided Questions:1) Who should pressure the opponent with the ball? 2)When do you step to steal the ball? 3) How do you step to steal the ball? 4) Why do the other defenders need to get compact and stay connected?
Answers:1) The closest defender. 2)When the attacker's head is down, takes a bad touch, or makes a soft pass. 3) Fast approach (long steps) while the ball is moving, and then slow arrival (short steps) when close. 4) To keep openings closed and keep them closed by moving together.
Notes:Start with the Core Activity after the first Play Phase. If it's too difficult, switch to the Less Challenging Activity. If it's too easy, switch to the More Challenging Activity. Spend a total of 20 minutes in the Practice Phase.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Activity 3 More Challenging

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Activity 3 More Challenging

Moment Defending

Objective: To prevent the opponent from building up, win the ball back and score.
Player Actions: Steal • Get compact • Stay compact
Key Qualities: Read game/make decisions • Initiative • Focus
Organization: Mark out a 36X45 yard field and include the build-out line. 6 Reds (2-3-1) attack large goal vs. 6 reds (1-2-3) to two small goals. Mostly begin from White goal kick, but vary the restarts (from GK hands, throw-ins, play Red team attack, etc). Play for 20 minutes with 1-2 breaks.
Keywords::Hunt the ball, stay together, move together
Guided Questions:1) Who should pressure the opponent with the ball? 2)When do you step to steal the ball? 3) How do you step to steal the ball? 4) Why do the other defenders need to get compact and stay connected?
Answers:1) The closest defender. 2)When the attacker's head is down, takes a bad touch, or makes a soft pass. 3) Fast approach (long steps) while the ball is moving, and then slow arrival (short steps) when close. 4) To keep openings closed and keep them closed by moving together.
Notes:Start with the Core Activity after the first Play Phase. If it's too difficult, switch to the Less Challenging Activity. If it's too easy, switch to the More Challenging Activity. Spend a total of 20 minutes in the Practice Phase.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Activity 4

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Activity 4

Activity 4: Play 20 minutes

Objective: To prevent the opponent from building up, win the ball back and score.
Player Actions: Steal • Get compact • Stay compact
Key Qualities: Read game/make decisions • Initiative • Focus
Organization: Mark out a regular 7 v 7 field with build-out lines. Play 6v6 (Red 1-1-3-1 vs White 1-2-2-1). Play for ~20 minutes including one “halftime” (5 min.) using the Laws of the Game (LOTG)
Keywords: Hunt the ball, stay together, move together, force inside/outside (depends on side of field e.g. inside on their side, outside on our side)
Guided Questions: Half-Time- Repeat all questions previously used as needed. End of Game- 1) How did you do in stealing the ball? Where and when should we move to do it? 2) Why is it important to focus as a team to get compact and stay compact? 3) How did you take initiative and confront the situation?
Answers: Half-Time- Repeat all questions/answers previously used as needed. Players provide examples (specific communication, forming a compact block, forcing the opponent in a certain direction).
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