Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defending wide areas

Warm up (20 mins)

Mark out a 24x12 area and position two colour-coded mini-goals at one end of the area. Mark out two coloured gates at the opposite end of the playing area.

Attackers begin with possession of the ball and if the ball enters through the red gate, the attackers can only score in the opposite red goal. If they enter through the blue gate they score in the opposite blue goal

The Defenders are then forced to defend the wide area and either a) use the touchline to force the Attackers away from the goal or b) show Attackers inside towards the covering Defender to outnumber and regain the ball.

If the Defenders win possession they can score by passing or dribbling through the coloured gate that the Attackers entered the area.

Rotate roles of Defenders and Attackers after a set period or number of attacks.

Coaching Points

As a pair, Defenders need to be aware of the position of the Attackers and the ball.

Defenders must get into a side-on position and dictate the direction of play away from goal and towards the sideline.

The Defender closest to the ball must accelerate and get in line with the ball to prevent forward play. When the Defender is a yard away from the Attacker, they must slow down to prevent the Attacker from beating them easily.

Defenders must look for triggers and cues to win the ball back such as; a poor pass, a loose touch, ball near the sideline.

Team Defending in 11v11 game (30 mins)

Mark out two-thirds of the field and divide the playing area into two wide channels and one, central channel. Players are locked into their designated channel with a 2v2 in the wide channels and a 6v6 + Goalkeepers in the central channel.

The Red Team (Attackers) must score from a cross or a pass from one of the wide areas. The White Team (Defenders) defend the wide channels and can score from any of the three channels if they regain possession.

Coaching Points

The White Team must apply pressure to the ball centrally to force play wide. Once the ball has been played into a wide area the white wide players must press the opposition towards the sidelines to win back possession or force a turnover.

The White team must maintain a compact shape. This will prevent The Red team from penetrating centrally and force them to play into the wide areas where they can win the ball.

White players around the ball must create defensive layers and support the player closest to the ball. Covering players need to take up positions where they can see both the ball and any potential passing options available to the player in possession to trap the opposition in areas where they can win the ball.

Once the White team have forced the Red Team into the wide areas they must prevent them from escaping and switching the play. The White Defenders must be patient and not allow themselves to be easily beaten by the Red Attackers.