Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defensive Principles - Pressure and Cover

Screen 1

Conditioned game

Players are numbered 1 through 6

The player with their same number is the only player allowed to steal the ball from them and the only player they can steal the ball from.

Encourge:

Good pressure to delay/steer opposite number

Good decisions when to step and win the ball

Screen 3

Pressure/Cover - 1st and 2nd defender

25x15 area

Players are paired up and will take turns rotating into the defensive pair

Each player on the outside corners with a ball.

Coach will look at a player and make eye contact to cue them to attack. Attacking player must attempt to dribble past both defenders to opposite corner for a point.

Defenders can only win possession if they have cover behind the pressuring defender - Pressuring defender can not wint he ball back without cover from team mate.

If possession is won by the defenders they can score a point by passing to the coach (2v1)

Encourage:

- Communication

- Distances between pressure/cover

- Delaying/steering attacker until support arrives

- Steering attacker into team mate or sideline to collectively win the ball

- Cover at the correct angle/distance/side of pressing defender

Coach sets off players from different corners of the grid in quick succession to challenge defenders to recognise danger and work together to stop the threat.

5/6 turns per pair