Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Defending: 1 v 1 / Pressure Cover Balance / Organization off the Ball (Start Time: 2025-04-05 16:15:00)

Profile Summary

Name:	Pawel Milczarek
City:	Cochrane
Country:	Canada
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

This session is designed to convey basic defensive tactical and technical skills at the beginning of a season.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Warmup: Klopp Pressing Warm-up

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Warmup: Klopp Pressing Warm-up (10 mins)

Organization: Place 4 cones in a diamond shape with the points 5 meters from the one on the opposite side of the diamond. Divide players up into 6 or more per each diamond. One ball per diamond.

Instruction: Players will pass diagonally along the edge of the diamond. When the ball is released, the player on the opposite end of the diamond will press and attempt to close the distance and defend the player opposite who will then pass again along the edge of the diamond starting the process over again. Ensure each defensive player moves to the right to get the around the passing players to get to the back of that line.

Coaching Points: 1. Technique for the Defending Player: High to low (upright to crouched) physical position, Fast to Slow (close the player down quickly and slow down on approach), Angle on (body shape used to take away the pass).

Progressions: 1. Gauge the speed of play to ensure defensive players have a chance to close the distance. If not, require two touches from passing players before the pass. 2. If still two easy, change direction requiring left-foot passing clockwise.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Whole: High Press Cover Balance

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Whole: High Press Cover Balance (25 mins)

Organization: 3 v 3 with extra players lined up behind the start positions. Teams divided with pinnies.
Instructions:

Coach will play in the ball to Red 1, 2 or 3. Blue players will simulate a high press with the closest player taking the Pressure position, the second closest adopting the Cover position an the remaining player adopting the Balance position. Pressure engages 1 v 1 with the ball carrier. Cover is 5-6 feet back to step in if Pressing player is beat. Balance player is covering the other reds in a zone defence to intercept any pass. Game concludes with Red scoring on the corner pug nets or Blue scoring on the large net with keeper. If ball goes out of bounds, restart.

Coaching Points: 1. Ensure players understand this simulates what they are expected to do in the offensive zone without the ball.

2. The Defender closest to where the ball goes becomes the Press. Using the same technique from the warmup (high to low), (fast to slow) the player approaches the ball carrier and angles their body to guide the attacker where they want them to go.

3. The 2nd Defender is the second closest to where the ball goes. Defender2 approaches the same way but stops 5-6 feet back and off to the side that has another attacker on it.

4. Defender3 is the furthest from the ball. Their job is to cover the space to the next attacker and either intercept the pass or press that attacker if the ball is passed to them successfully.

5. Ensure any beat Pressure player immediately re-engages to track back. We never give up on the play.
Progression: 1. Adjust the amount offensive players to make more difficult or easier depending on how session goes.

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

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Part: 1 v 1 Defending (15 mins)

Organization: 1 v 1 mini-games with no goalkeepers until one player scores or the ball goes out of play. Extra players line up behind each starting position.

Instructions: Blue Defensive players will pass the ball to the offence and immediately run in to take up a goal side defensive position. Blue player will then proceed to DELAY the Red player's advance with their body positioning, DENY the Red player useful positions to advance the ball, and finally dispossess the opponent. The mantra taught will be DENY, DELAY, DESTROY. After play ends players can switch sides running around the field of play.

Coaching Points: 1. Technique: High to low (upright to crouched) physical position, Fast to Slow (close the player down quickly and slow down on approach), Angle on (body shape dictating the attacker's movement). 2. Ensure defensive player is being patient and waiting until the offensive player shows them too much of the ball.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Whole: Scrimmage

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Whole: Scrimmage (20 mins)

Organization: 5 v 5 with one goalkeeper. Other net has small net inside large net (goals only between the nets)

Instruction: The players will be permitted to play a game with CMSA rules for U11 with our expected numbers. Before game starts, coach will demonstrate expected closeness when out of possession.

Coaching Points: 1. Reinforce Pressure/Cover/Balance 2. Reinforce Delay/Deny/Destroy 3. Reinforce shape adjustment when out of possession.

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