Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): Defending - Technical to Tactical

Pro-Club: Rotherham United FC Academy

Matt Hamshaw

Profile Summary

Name:	Matt Hamshaw
City:	Rotherham
Country:	United Kingdom
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Dynamic Movements and Technical Footwork

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Dynamic Movements and Technical Footwork

Dynamic Movements & Technical Warm-Up

Set up: Every player has a ball. Grid as large as needed for players to have ample space.

Session: On coach's command, all players dribble around the grid performing specific technical footwork (dribble cuts, base system, roll overs, etc). On next command, players will perform specific dynamic movement to the next open ball (high knees, lunges, quad flex, etc). Once at open ball, players then go back to technical footwork.

Footwork: Dribble Cuts, Scissors, Step Overs, Cruyff Turn, V Pull Back, etc.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defensive Shadow Drill

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Defensive Shadow Drill

Set Up: Use as much space as possible, and have players 15 yards apart in pairs with one ball between them.

Activity: 1) Player passes ball out, and 2) sprints out in an arced run to "Close Down" attacker. 3) Defender "Slows Down" as they approach attacker so as to not outrun them, and "Shows Down" or gets into a staggered, side-on athletic stance. 4) Attacker dribbles and works on their moves going forward as defender SHADOWS them and works on pivoting as attacker moves forward and side to side.

Coaching Points: "Close down, Slow down, Show down, Shut down", close down run must be arced to take away one side of field, when defender pivots to adjust to attacker's advances, they must overcompensate and move to cut off other side from attacker. Don't take the ball away!

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 1v2 Pressure/Cover

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1v2 Pressure/Cover

Set Up: Grid is 10 yards wide by 15-20 yards long. Three lines of players with the Attacking line at the top of the grid, one Defending line (the Pressure) starting by the goal, and one Defending line 3-5 yards up the sideline depending upon ability.

Activity: Depending on ability of players, coach can either play ball out, or "Pressure" defender can play ball out. As ball is played out, "Pressure" defender sprints out to pressure defender with proper technique. "Cover" defender must sprint and touch goal before entering field. When "Cover" defender enters field, they must provide proper supporting angle to "Pressure" defender as shown in (2). Add another goal to increase decision making and pressure on defense.

Coaching Points: Proper defending technique from first defender, proper angle of support from second defender, if "Pressure" defender gets beat then "Cover" defender must step up and become "Pressure" while first defender reCOVERS behind. Have "Pressure" defender push attacker to side where "Cover" is coming from. Add in communication techniques with advanced groups such as, "push left, push right, contain" etc.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 3v3 Team Defending Game

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3v3 Team Defending Game

Set Up: 20-30x25 yards. Coach in the middle with all of the balls, and three lines on each team's side.

Activity: Coach plays ball out to one side and both teams enter field. Defending team must send closest person to the ball to pressure, and other two players must find proper supporting angles to cover. Attackers try to score, and if defenders win ball, they attack opposite side. Add two more goals to make it more difficult.

Coaching Points: Defending team must have closest person to ball pressure immediately, and other two defenders provide cover. If pressuring defender is beaten, then covering defender must quickly come up to pressure, and intial pressuring defender reCOVERS. Patience on defense, closing attacker off to either sideline or where help is depending on where they are on the field.