Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defending in opponents half - using offside, staying onside

Warm-up Closing down, defensive footwork

Organization - pass to opponent and close down the space, get sideways on and work on retreating/delaying as the attadcker shifts from side to side. Defender should not be horizontal with his body posistion and should back up at the same speed as the attacker is moving.

2v2 Small side game with offsides Defending with 2

Organization - 2v2 in a 20 by 15 grid, line soccer , coach plays ball in to one side. Both defenders close down to try and win the ball back in the opponents half or at the midline to put the attackers offside. If they win the ball they tranistion to score on the other side. 5 points to win ball in opponents half, 3 points for putting the opponent off-side and 1 point for winning the ball back in their own half.

Progression - add a all time neutral player to post up on the midline and play with both teams. This is advanced by will make it a 2v3 and give more opportunies to recognize more complex defending situations and more passing to work on off-sides.

Coaching points - defenders are prepared sideways on ready to sprint and close down the space to defend as far away from the line as possible. The objective is to win the ball back on the opponents half. 1st defender pressures and the 2nd defender covers at a diagonal distance as to not get beat with a pass and be close enough to get attacker if first defender is beaten.

When the first defender gets close to attacker, slow down, get in a sideways stance and force the attacker one way and delay waiting for a chance to intercept the ball. Do not dive in. Teach concept of not waiting for attacker, but going to meet them and cues to push up (when the opponent is facing their own goal, back pass etc.) -

Even though it is a defensive session, if the defense is having success on putting off-side then teach offense to stay on side by - moving up with the defense until ball is played, running along the defensive line, running from the midfield into the space behind at the moment the player is passing the ball.

7v7 or 9v9 + 2 Goals

Organization - 70 by 45 field with 2 goals and midline, call off sides and work on pushing team up on attack to get all players in the other half with keeper off the line.

Coaching points - They have the ball, defend as far away from the ball as possible and call off-sides. Observe the defense how to put the oppoment offsides and the attackers how to stay onside. Coach live within the play. Coaches observe and guide the 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 conepts from training.