Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Coach the skill or technique of defending priorities in 1V1 situations against the ball carrier

Warm up (10 mins)

Set up: 3 or 4 diamonds with 4-5 players per diamond

Time: 10-12 mins

The exercise: The first player in line moves quickly out to the cone 1 (20 yards apart) that represents the ball.

The defender should recover running backwards to cone 4 while facing the ball (cone 1). Once there she should quickly move out to “close the space” to cone 2. Once again, recover facing the ball to cone 4 and quickly move out to the final disc cone 3.

On the way back the player will do a dynamic movement.

Coaching points:

The movement should be made:

Quickly to “close the space”

The angle of approach should be “side on” to steer the attack wide

Defenders weight should be balanced and slightly favoring the back foot.

Analytical

Set up: 30 x 30 yards with small nets on each end. Players divided in 2 groups. Balls will be located in the in the middle behind the nets. Utilize a field line or make a line with cones half way the field.

Time: 12-15 mins

The exercise: 3 v3 Blue player passes the ball to white player and defend on a 3v3 situation. Once the ball is out of play (score or out of bounds) both teams are off and waiting blue team passes to white to start the 3v3. If defender wins the ball tries to score and roles get reversed. Ball is always played from defending player to attacker. Blue and white teams switch roles after each play.

Coaching points:

Defender players needs to decide:

1. Close down the space -quick pressure. Can the player do it before the line. Why?

2. Slow down - How was the attacker first touch? What should the defender do based on the attacker first touch?

3. Get down/stay down. Can the player identify when to jockey the defender to delay the play or deny playing forward. At what angle and distance? Why?

Cool down

Time: 5-7 mins

1. One lap around the field

2. Dynamic stretching:

Hamstring

Quadriceps

Groin

Calf