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Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Day5-Defensive Principles

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FAW Coach Ed

Serhat Aykut

Profile Summary

Serhat Aykut
Name: Serhat Aykut
City: İstanbul
Country: Turkey
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Description

This session is designed to develop players’ individual and collective defensive principles, progressing from physical preparation to 1v1 defending, small-group defending, and finally team defensive positioning. The focus is on defensive body shape, timing of pressure, compactness, communication, and effective transitions between attacking and defending roles.

Organisation (Practice Layout & Transition)

Area Size:

  • Warm-up: 30 x 25 m
  • 1v1 Defending: 15 x 10 m corridor
  • 3v3 Defending: 25 x 20 m
  • Defensive Positioning: Half pitch (approx. 45 x 40 m)
    • Players:

  • Whole squad involved, rotating roles throughout the session
  • Equal work-rest ratios ensured through continuous rotations
    • Equipment:

  • Cones to mark areas and channels
  • 2 mini goals / 1 full-size goal (depending on practice)
  • Footballs placed around the area for quick restarts
  • Bibs to differentiate teams
    • Organisation & Transitions:

  • Practices are set up in advance to allow immediate transitions between activities
  • Clear rotation rules: attacker becomes defender, defender exits and joins the queue
  • In group practices, teams rotate roles after each repetition or set time
  • Quick ball reintroduction to maintain tempo and intensity
    • Coaching Position:

  • Coach positioned diagonally to observe body shape, distances, and communication
  • Interventions kept brief and targeted to avoid breaking rhythm

    • Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Warm-up

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    Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Warm-up
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    Warm-up (10 mins)

    Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

     

    • Regression: Increase jogging distance and reduce sprint frequency to manage physical load.

    • Progression: Increase sprint distances or reduce recovery time between high-intensity runs.

    • Add directional changes or reaction cues (whistle or call) to simulate defensive recovery runs.

     

    Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

    • Players must maintain correct running mechanics and a defensive mindset.

    • High-intensity efforts should be performed at match-realistic speed.

    • Target: consistent sprint quality and quick recovery between efforts.

    Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 1v1 Defending

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    Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 1v1 Defending
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    1v1 Defending (15 mins)

    Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

    • Regression: Increase starting distance between defender and attacker to allow more reaction time.

    • Progression: Limit attacker touches or add a scoring target to increase realism.

    • Start defender from different angles to challenge body positioning.

     Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

    • Defender must delay the attacker, stay balanced, and show play away from goal.

    • Focus on defensive stance, correct distance, and timing of the tackle.

    • Target: regain possession or force the attacker away from dangerous areas.

    • Immediate role rotation reinforces transition awareness.

       

    Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 3v3 Defending

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    Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 3v3 Defending
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    3v3 Defending (25 mins)

    Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

    • Regression:

    • Increase pitch size to reduce pressure on defenders. 

    • Progression:

    • Limit attackers’ touches or apply time constraints. 

    • Neutral players can be added to overload attackers if defenders succeed consistently.

     Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

    • Defending team must stay compact and protect central areas.

    • Emphasis on communication, covering, and pressing as a unit.

    • Target: force play wide or regain possession within a set time.

    Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defensive Positioning

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    Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defensive Positioning
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    Defensive Positioning (20 mins)

    Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

     

    • Regression:

    • Reduce attacking player numbers to simplify defensive organisation.

    • Progression:

    • Add a transition goal so defenders counter-attack after winning possession.

    • Adjust pitch width to challenge horizontal compactness.

     Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

     

     

     

    • Red team must stay compact and shift collectively in relation to the ball.

    • Correct distances between lines must be maintained.

    • Target: deny penetration, protect central zones, and regain possession through collective movement.

       

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    75
    per year
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