Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 1V1 Training Plan 4 SAP First Defender

1v1 Skill Introduction (5 mins)

Area: Series of 10 x 15 grids, two players per grid Players: 2-16

Explanation: Players play 1 v 1 in grid, Ball starts with Player "D" who passes to and defends Player "A, who attacks "D", rotate attacker/defender. Skill Introduction to focus the four 1v1 defensive principles spending 5 mins on each exclusively, 1. Pressure, getting to the attacker quickly to close down their area of play and forward movement. Can the defender get to the attacker before they pass the blue/yellow markers (adjust position of markers to get the right level of challenge). Key learning/coaching points; always on your toes getting to the attacker quickly, getting on your heels gives attacker an advantage in a change of speed; judging the distance to attacker, not over committing or getting too close and off balance allowing attacker to pass; getting close enough to the attacker to halt their progress and they moves their eyes to the ball; side on positioning when closing down. 2. Delay, Side on, body position to halt attacker movement; on your toes, down low, knees bent ready to explode if attacker knocks ball past; distance to the attacker allows the attacker to retain the ball and not commit to a change of speed/direction; "jockey" backwards to keep the attacker on the ball but slowing their foward movment. This time/delay allows fellow defenders to get into position

1V1 Skill Training (20 mins)

Area: 20 x 30 divided into three 10 x 20 zones, two small goals at either end. Players: 6-16

Explanation: 3 v 3. Play starts with one player from each team in each of the three zones starting at the goal line, coach plays the ball in to one team who become the attackers and compete 1v1 in their zones, players must stay in their zones but attackers can pass the ball between zones. First Defender (ball in their zone) must apply pressure quickly on attacker. Defenders focus on the four 1v1 defensive principles, 1 Pressure, 2 Delay, 3 Direction, 4 Deposes and try to force attacker to pass to another zone or turn them away from goal. Defenders score a point if they can force the attacking team to move the ball across all three zones or if they can force all three attackers to face their own goal.

Step Up: Widen area. Allow attackers to swap zones in play. Step Down: arrow area, time limit attackeing team possesion.