Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending 3 v 3 Pressure, cover, balance

Warm Up (15 mins)

Organization:

General area

Ball per pair

Instructions:

- Players are roughly 5 yards apart passing back & forth (2-touch or 1-touch). Three technical defending sequences to work on detailed below:

1.) When player stops the ball, partner must run up, touch the ball, and run backwards in a defending position.

2.) When player lets the ball roll through their legs he must begin to sheild the ball from his partner, partner must run to the ball to get touch-tight and just force the attacker back.

3.) When player begins to attack his partner, partner must jockey and "delay" attacker from getting around him.

Coaching Points:

- Reaction to defending

- Recognition of type of defending style to use

- Choice of defending style (run backwards, pressure to force backwards, jockey)

- Body shape, stance and balance when defending

Progressions:

Main Activity II (30 mins)

Organization:

Same set-up as prior screen

Instructions:

- Play starts with service from defender in 1 channel.

- Attackers can attack any goal (their starting channel or a different channel) and can move between channels; however, they must always have a 1v1 in each channel, cannot have a 2v1.

- Defenders must stay in their own channel, they are not allowed to cross over or change into opposite channels.

- Halfway scoring restriction is lifted.

Coaching Points:

- Communication between defenders

- Watch visual cues of attackers to make sure ball cannot get in behind.

- Decision to pressure, delay, cover, tackle

Progressions:

Fully Opposed Game (25 mins)

Organization:

1. 30x30 area.

2. 10x10 zones.

3. Three teams as shown.

Instructions:

1. Two attacking teams at endzones.

2. Defending team in the middle.

3. Attacking teams score:

a) by connecting ten consecutive passes in zone or,

b) playing split pass to opposite zone (other attacking team).

4. Defending team can only send two players into zone.

5. Defending team wins a point by winning ball.

6. Bonus point on successful transition (pass to other side).

Coaching Points:

1. Communication - loud, early, concise.

2. Speed and angle of approach.

3. Work as a unit.

4. Ability to switch roles quickly.

5. Moments to win the ball - double team or tackle.

6. Transition to attack.

Progressions:

1. Allow defending team to send as many players as possible.

2. Team that loses ball defends.