Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Hearts U13 - Defending - Depth and Cover

Profile Summary

Name:	Graham Rennie
City:	Morristown
Country:	United States of America
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

Interface Language

Share this Session

Link Session

Build 3D sessions in seconds

Access to 1000’s of sessions

Professionalise and modernise your coaching

Used by the world’s best coaches

US$

per year

Join today

Description

Defensive session - Concentrating on defenders moving together in relation to the ball and offering depth and cover.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Warm Up - Rondo

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Save Image:

Create Video:

Warm Up - Rondo (10 mins)

Warm Up - 10 mins

Organisation - (2 groups of 8)

Rondo practise. 6v2 inside 12x12yd box (make smaller if necessary). Defending two change every time possession is lost. Player that loses possession and the player who played the previous pass go in the middle.

Aim

Players to take responsibility for keeping possession / detail and accuracy / weight of passes.

Variation / Progression

Players in possession play in a two touch / one touch order.

Coaching points (defenders)

- stay together, don't get split

- first player press, second player diagonally behind

- anticipation of pass

- trigger for aggressive press (lofted pass, poor touch)

Questioning (to defenders)

- Where don't you want the pass to go?

- Which triggers may tempt you to press aggressively?

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 4v4 Possession

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Save Image:

Create Video:

4v4 Possession (15 mins)

Groups split into two groups of 8. One group to work on possession with the other on defensive work then swap over.

Possession

Organisation

4v4 in a 24x 24 yard box. Emphasis is on high pressure and players ensuring they take responsibility for keeping individual and team possession.

Variations

1) 3 touch maximum possession (5 passes for 1 point)

2) Man to man marking possession, each player can only tackle or be tackled by one player. (4 passes for 1 point)

3) Players must run around a cone on outside of box if they are the player that gives away possession (6 passes for 1 point)

Coaching Points

- Detail of passing (accuracy, weight, safe side)

- Maintain individual possession (body between ball and defender)

- pressure on ball (triggers)

- play with head up, have a picture before receiving possession

Questioning

- When should we press aggressivley?

- Tell me about the weight of pass required? which side?

- How would you position your body to protect the ball?

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Bedding Down - Defensive Movement

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Save Image:

Create Video:

Bedding Down - Defensive Movement (10 mins)

Bedding down - Defensive Movement

Organisation

4v4 in a 30 x 30 yard area. Blues line up in a diamond formation. Whites line up as a back 4. Blues move the ball between them and the whites change position in relation. Swap groups

Movements

Pass out wide - back four move across (nike tick shape showing depth - no straight lines. Don't go too early so ball can't be played inside fullback)

Pass back into centre - defenders narrow and creep forward together

Pass into striker - central defender presses the ball, defenders behind narrow

Deep Midfielder threatens ball in behind - defenders drop off on half turn

Coaching Points

- as above

- communication from defenders and goalkeeper

Direct coaching style used here - not looking to ask questions.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 4 v 4

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Save Image:

Create Video:

4 v 4 (10 mins)

4v4 to end lines

Organisation

In same area, ball starts from coach, teams try to attack each other and dribble the ball over end line. Group with goalkeeper, gk stays behind end line and practises communication - 'Up', 'drop off' 'slide across' 'press'

Coaching points

- Reinforcement of defensive movements

- Cover position of second defender

- Shape of defensive line (not square)

Questioning

- when do we move up?

- how should our body position be when we drop off?

- when do you know when you should press in a wide area?

- where do you want to force the opposition?

- who should be communicating?

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): GRP

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Save Image:

Create Video:

GRP (20 mins)

Game Related Practise

Organisation

Blues line up 1-4-4 with two target players on the half way line. Whites line up 1-2-3, similar to Hamilton on Saturday. Ball starts with white player dropping to half way to receive the ball. Whites attack the goal and blues look defend and look to play into target players.

Coaching Points

- Defensive movements (up, drop off, slide across)

- Communication

- Depth (defenders offering cover if defensive line is broken)

- No straight lines defensively (Nike tick)

- Cover defender to assist in 1v1 situations

Questioning

- Stop play with the ball in certain areas. Question defenders regarding their position, body shape and information they should be passing on.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Screen 6

See the guidance at the top of this page to understand why you are not seeing interactive Football/Soccer images.

Save Image:

Create Video:

Screen 6 (20 mins)

8v8 game

Organisation

Half Pitch. Freeplay. 4-3-1 v 4-2-1 formations. Stoppages to reinforce previous coaching points.

Build 3D sessions in seconds

Access to 1000’s of sessions

Professionalise and modernise your coaching

Used by the world’s best coaches

US$

per year

Join today