Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): U9/10 Winter Skill Centre - Session #13 (Defending) (Start Time: 2024-01-22 17:15:00)

Skill (Opposed) - Block Tackling (15 mins)

Set-Up:

• Players partner up with a ball between them
• Players will count together to 3, contacting the ball at 3. 
• They time their tackle on the ball so that both hit the ball at the same time
• Once they have success, they can back up and step into their tackle again timing it so as to not injure their opponent

• Planted foot next to the ball
• Inside of foot
• Middle of the ball
• Knee over the ball

Progressions:

1. Planting foot next to ball.

2. 1 step away from the ball.

3. 2 steps away from the ball.

Skill (Opposed) - 1v2 in a Square (15 mins)

Set-Up:

- 5 cones, place a gate in one corner for the attacker to dribble through.

- Line up defenders at cone A & B, A will have the balls. Attackers lined up across from A and ready to receive the pass, take a positive touch and attack.

Description:

- Similar to 1v1 in a Square but this time working on defending in pairs

- Defender A passes to attacker

- Defender A makes a curved run to take away the goal and close the distance to the attacker

- Defender B loops behind him to give support. 

- Both defenders force the attacker away from goal

- Defender B will tell A where to push the attacker, "Force him wide", "Push him to the corner", etc.

- Defenders must be aware of their distance from one another and identify the right time to "engage" which is our trigger word for tackle

- When Defender B gives the "engage" shout, Defender B will support A in case the attacker gets through

- If Defender A is beat, Defender B will close the distance to the attacker and Defender A will loop around to provide support

- Once the defenders win possession, the attacker successfully dribbles through the gate, or the ball goes out of play, the sequence is complete. Players then rotate clockwise to switch positions.

Coaching Points:

- Angle of approach (force attacker on to their least favorite foot or away from the goal)

- Body position in relation to the potential pass (take the goal/player away)

- "Engage" when the attacker is in trouble (attacker turns their back or is close to being out of the playing space)

- Distance to attacker (arm length)

- Which foot is forward and why?

- Use of arms and feet to threaten

- Keeping the same foot forward by moving our feet (want to keep the attacker on the designated side of our choice).

- Communication between Defender A and B, tell him where to push, "engage"

https://app.veo.co/matches/20230930-1v1-in-box-4305d0d3/