Joshua Welty
| Name: | Joshua Welty |
|---|---|
| City: | Kansas City |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Membership: | Adult Member |
| Sport: | Football/Soccer |
Simple session using rondo to teach the players the roles of 3 defenders when playing defense in small groups. Depending on the ability of your players, you could put a restiction that the defending players can't steal the ball, only make the movements needed.
Remember because this session uses rondo, and is not directional, you are only teaching the roles and responsibilities of each defending player. Distance, angle, and position of each player will change in a game depending on the amount of pressure on the ball, the body shape of the player in possession, the 1/3 of the field, all relative to where the goal you are defending is at.
A good defending team keeps everything in front of them, forces the opposing team sideways or backwards, doesn't let runs go unmarked in behind, and keeps one pass from beating them.

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Organization: Add 2nd defender. Play Rondo keep ball with 2 defenders and 1 ball.
Instructions: Player nearest the ball performs the role of the 1st defender and stated above. The 2nd defender reads the pressuring first defender's speed and angle to predict/anticipate the movement of the ball and tries to jump the pass. Make sure players understand that they can be either 1st or 2nd defender at any time. Change defenders every 1-2 minutes.
Coaching Points: Communication with the 1st defender (Push left! Push Right!). Read the play and anticipate the pass. Prevent the penetrating split pass. Support the 1st defender. Angle of support (45 degrees). Distance of support. Stay connected to the 1st defender and squeeze space as the pressure intensifies. If you can jump/intercept the pass as the 2nd defender - attack the ball before it arrives OR immediately after the 1st touch of the receiving player as it is moving away from him.
If the 2 defenders get split with a pass, then the distance and angle of support of the 2nd defender is incorrect.

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.
Organization: Add 3rd defender. Play Rondo keep ball with 3 defenders and 1 ball.
Instructions: Player nearest the ball performs the role of the 1st defender and stated above. Player nearest the 1st defender becomes 2nd defender and performs role as stated above. Remaining defender becomes the 3rd defender.
The 3rd defender needs to read the speed, angles, and distance of the 1st and 2nd defender and make a decision: If correct - the 3rd defender moves at a distance from the 2nd defender to eliminate any further passing options away from the player in possession If Incorrect - the 3rd defender must move into a position behind and between the 1st and 2nd defender to deny a penetrating split pass. Make sure each player can make this decision correctly.
Make sure players understand that they can be either 1st or 2nd or 3rd defender at any time. Change defenders every 1-2 minutes.
Coaching Points: Communication with the 1st and 2nd defender (Push left! Push Right! Squeeze!). Deny the split/penetrating pass. Stay connected at the correct distance and depth of support. Read the play of the possessing team, and the positions of the 1st and 2nd defender in order to make the decision on the position of support of the 3rd defender.
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Animation Controls (PCs, Macs, Laptops):
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Back/Forward: Drag timeline button
Role of the 1st Defender (Pressure) (15 mins)
Organization: Play Rondo keep ball with 1 defender and 1 ball.
Instructions: Teach players to bend their run to take away passing options fo the team in possession. See if the defender can force the ball both directions (force the team in possession to play the opposite way). Every player is the defender for about a minute.
Coaching Points: Pressure the ball at the correct angle by bending your run. Limit the passers options. Speed and angle of pressure makes play predictable.