Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): DEFENDING U9

Skill (Opposed) - Block Tackling (10 mins)

Set-Up:

• Players partner up with a ball between them
• Players will count together to 3, contacting the ball at 3. 
• They time their tackle on the ball so that both hit the ball at the same time
• Once they have success, they can back up and step into their tackle again timing it so as to not injure their opponent

• Planted foot next to the ball
• Inside of foot
• Middle of the ball
• Knee over the ball

Skill (Opposed) - 1v1 in a Square (15 mins)

Set-Up:

- Line up defenders behind 1 cone with a ball each and attackers in front of them ready to receive the pass and attack.

Description:

- Defender passes to attacker

- Defender then makes a curved run to take away the goal and close the distance to the attacker

- Attacker attacks the goal and once the sequence is complete, they switch positions.

Coaching Points:

- Angle of approach (force attacker on to their least favorite foot or away from the goal)

- Body position in relation to the potential pass (take the goal/player away)

- Engage when the attacker is in trouble (attacker turns their back or is close to being out of the playing space)

- Distance to attacker

- Which foot is forward and why?

- Use of arms and feet to threaten

- Keeping the same foot forward by moving our feet (want to keep the attacker on the designated side of our choice).

SSG - 3 Teams 1v1 (15 mins)

Set-Up:

- Players are divided into 3 teams

- 3 Goals

- Balls with coach

Version 1:

Number the players 1-4. 1 player at a time goes onto the field for each team when the coach calls their number. They play 1 vs 1 vs 1. When someone is scored on, that player is eliminated and the next player from that team comes onto the pitch. New player starts with the ball and play continues. When a whole team is eliminated, the last 2 teams play 1 vs 1 until only 1 team is left with any players.

Version 2:

Each player on the color is given a number (try to make each colors best player #1, etc to make it fair. Coach calls out a number and those players play till there is a goal or the coach deems it has gone too long. Each team starts at 0. If you score, your team goes +1 and if your team is scored on your team goes -1. This way we will have some teams play together as it may be +3 to -1 to -2 and strategy comes into play. Mix it up by calling out 2 or 3 numbers at a time. (variation, if the goals are large, the remaining players not called out can be the goalie with no hands and arms interlocked. Can they work together to take some of the goal away? This added piece can be fun, especially with the younger ones)

Coaching Points:

- Angle of approach (force attacker on to their least favorite foot or away from the goal)

- Body position in relation to the potential pass when an extra player is added (take the goal/player away)

- Engage when the attacker is in trouble (attacker turns their back or is close to being out of the playing space)

- Distance to attacker

- Which foot is forward and why?

- Use of arms and feet to threaten

- Keeping the same foot forward by moving our feet (want to keep the attacker on the designated side of our choice).