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Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Foundation Phase - Defending

Profile Summary

Alex Aylott
Name: Alex Aylott
City: Launceston
Country: Australia
Membership: Adult Member
Sport: Football/Soccer
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Description

The session focuses on specific attributes that are important in defending.



1. Reaction to a lost ball – individual quick reactions aiming to take the ball from the opposing team as quickly as possible, leading to a positive transition and possession of the ball.


2. Delaying & Directing the Play(er) –Players movements in defense aim at slowing down the opponents attack and directing them into less dangerous zones by screening  forward progress and providing time for defense to get organized.


3. Aggressiveness in duels – being effective and strong in 1v1 duels in order to reduce the amount of time an opponent has to build their attack; or steal the ball and regain possession.


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Bib Game X Stuck in the Mud

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Bib Game X Stuck in the Mud
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Bib Game X Stuck in the Mud

Bib Game X Stuck in the Mud


Set Up

  • 15m by 15m square


Explanation

  • Players are split into two teams and each given two bibs of the same colour. I.e. Team A all receive two green bibs; Team B receives two blue bibs.
  • Each player sticks two bibs into their shorts at the hip, ensuring the bibs are hanging out sufficient enough to grab.
  • Players are to move around the area looking to grab the bibs out. A player can only remove one bib at a time.
  • Once a player loses both bibs they are now 'stuck in the mud' and can be freed by a player from their team crawling through their legs.
  • Once a player crawls through their legs they can go and put two bibs back in and re-join the game. The team that has most players remaining at the end wins.
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 1v1 - Protect the space behind

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 1v1 - Protect the space behind
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1v1 - Protect the space behind

1v1 - Delay and Direct


Set Up


  • Area set up 10m by 5m with two gates set up in opposite corners of the area
  • Flat markers dividing the area vertically at the halfway mark.
  • Players line up on the corner of the square where the goals are.



Explanation


  • The practice starts with the defending player passing the ball into the attacking player (IF PLAYER UNABLE TO DO THIS CLEANLY THEN COACH TO DO IT).
  • The attacking player receives and must try dribble through a gate at the opposite end.
  • The defending player must get side on and stop the attacking player from getting into their half of the area and deny them driving through a gate.
  • Once the balls dead or the player makes it through the gate it restarts again by the next defending player, passing into the area to the next attacking player.



Coaching Points

- Side on

- Surfboard stance

- Arm distance apart

  • Delay and Direct - can we keep the attacking player out of our half and protect the space behind us? 
  • Aggressiveness in duels - without injuring their teammates and being reckless we want players to be determined to win the ball back. Some side on side contact is acceptable.
Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): U10, U11 & U12 Only 1v1 - Reaction to a lossed ball

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): U10, U11 & U12 Only 1v1 - Reaction to a lossed ball
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U10, U11 & U12 Only 1v1 - Reaction to a lossed ball

1v1 - Reaction to a lost ball


Set Up

  • Area set up 10m by 5m 
  • Mini goal at each end 
  • Flat markers dividing the area horizontally at the halfway mark.

Explanation

  • A player dribbles the ball and attempts to score, as soon as they score or the ball leaves the area, a player from the opposite end drives in to try and score at the opposite end.
  • The player that took the shot must recover defensively to prevent the player from trying to score.
  • Players cannot shoot for goal until across the half way line.
  • This continues with players entering at alternating ends, with the player that just attacked, becoming the defender.


Coaching Points

  • Reaction to a lost ball - how quickly can the player try to win back possession or prevent the player from scoring a goal.
  • Aggressiveness in duels - without injuring their teammates and being reckless we want players to be determined to win the ball back. Some side on side contact is acceptable.


Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): U9 Only Robbers

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): U9 Only Robbers
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U9 Only Robbers

Robbers (To be used for the U9 and possibly U10s instead of the '1v1 - Reaction to a lost ball' drill.)


Set Up


  • 15m by 15m square


Explanation

  • All players in the square.
  • Half have a ball, half do not.
  • Objective is for players without the ball to win a ball. (Encourage players to take possession, not just kick it away)
  • If the ball leaves the area, whoever it last touched is the defender.


Coaching Points


  • Reaction to a lost ball - how quickly can the player try to win back possession (can be from same player or a different player).
  • Aggressiveness in duels - without injuring their teammates and being reckless we want players to be determined to win the ball back. Some side on side contact is acceptable.



Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 2v2 Games

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 2v2 Games
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2v2 Games

2v2 Games


  • Area set up about 15m by 10m.
  • Mini goals at both ends.

Explanation


  • Simple 2v2 games.
Coaching Points


  • Encourage players to react quickly to losing possession by trying to win it back and getting behind the ball.
  • Being assertive in duels.
  • Deny and delay the players entering the space behind.

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