Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): NSCAA National: Teaching 1st Defender to Press / Delay

Tecnhical (Passive) (10 mins)

Organization:

- As shown (10x10 yds)

Instructions:

- Players stand in corners playing ball back and forth two touch

- On the fifth pass, the passing player presses the ball as if she's a defender against the receiving player

- The receiving player then dribbles in slight diagonals, changing directions until they reach the opposite corner

- Defending player retreats to the opposite corner of the receiver and the activity starts over.

Coaching Points:

- Quickness to close space

- Bent run to make play predictable

- Appropriate distance from the defender (arms length? Can I get his head down?)

- Technique to jockey

- When to tackle

Progressions:

- Live to either corner.

Technical (1v1+1) (15 mins)

Organization:

- As shown

- Two teams of two - (one live, one nuetral)

Instructions:

- Live players (blue / white) play to respective PUGS

- Nuetrals are only available in the defensive half (as shown with blue player)

- If goal is scored ball leaves area, ball starts with nuetral.

Coaching Points:

1. Intercept / win ball on pass? Visual cues - eye contact, head down to pass.

2. Cannot intercept? Pressure ball, prervent turn, force attacker to receive on front foot (angle / shape of approach, side on, touch tight, mirror attacker's feet.

3. If attacker can face up; deny penetration, delay with pressure (distance from attacker and how it will affect him).

4. Can you seperate 1st attacker from his support? Create true 1v1

5. Am I numbers up/down?

6. When to tackle / delay?

-tackle: bad touch, ball away from foot, head up (from already close distance)

-delay: head down (from already close distance), head up (bigger distance from attacker, can i get head down by pressuring?), attacking player has a lot of support.

Progressions:

- Players can use nuetrals in either half