Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Colorado Edge - Defending Session 3 - Numbers Down Defending

1v1, 1v2, 2v3 Defending Guantlet - Part 1

Set-up:

3 Equal sized boxes stacked as shown in the diagram.  Size of box should be based on the talent level of the team, with smaller being for the more technical leveled groups and bigger for those still improving their craft.   Players A will be in line at the top of the ladder, while the Players B have one player at the base of each of the three boxes.

Instructions:

1) Player A dribbles into box 1 and upon entering Player B in that box can close them and try to stop Player A from getting through the box.  

2) If Player A gets into box 2, they earn a point and Player B from that box my now defend Player A.

3) If Player A gets into box 3, they earn a second point and Player B in the final box may defend Player A.

4) If Players A gets out of the final box they earn a final point and return to their line.

5) I at any point Player B wins the ball or the ball goes out, the Players B all step up one box and a new Player A enters.  

6) Clearly Players B can only defend the box in front of them and may not go into the box behind them.

Coaching Points:

a) Try to isolate the attacker and use the sideline as a second defender.

b) Try to slow the attacker down so that the defender can best attempt to win the ball back.

1v1, 1v2, 2v3 Defending Guantlet - Part 3

Set-up:

Same set up as prior part, but increase the size of the boxes to allow for 3v2 and we add and attacker and defender..

Instructions:

1) 3 Players A dribbles into box 1 and upon entering the box to play 3v2 against, 2 Players B in that box can close them and try to stop the Players A from getting through the box.  

2) If Players A gets into box 2, they earn a point and Player B from that box my now defend Players A.

3) If Players A gets into box 3, they earn a second point and Player B in the final box may defend Players A.

4) If Players A gets out of the final box they earn a final point and return to their line.

5) I at any point Player B wins the ball or the ball goes out, the Players B all step up one box and a new Players A enters.  

6) Clearly Players B can only defend the box in front of them and may not go into the box behind them.

Coaching Points:

a) Attempt to create a numbers even game by isolating the first attacker with good body shape away from their second attacker as shown is zone 1.

Numbers Down End Game

Set-up:

Play even numbers end game with big goals and gks based on the number of players you have in your session.   

Instructions:

1) The attacking team can send every player into the attacking half, while the team in defense must keep two forwards high in their attacking third.  

2) If the defending team wins the ball, they must connect two passes before getting forward, which allows time for the attacking team to recover into a defensive shape since offside rules will not be in play.