Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending Session 1

Defending Technical 12mins

Defending

Set up two 10m x 5m areas.

Aim

Red players will attempt to dribble past the blue player and get to the opposite side.

Blue players aim is to win the ball of the red player.

Change Reds to defending and Blues attacking after 10mins

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Progression - Make the pitch area smaller to make it hard to get past.

Regression - Defending players are only allow to pressure the attacker but not tackle.

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Each team to keep score on how many times they had either got to the other side or won the ball.

Challenges players to try to get past using their weaker foot side.

Small Sided Game 30mins

Aim

5v5 match but 1v1 in the attacking thirds.

Defenders in that can then focus on the 1v1 to start.

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Progression -

Allow an Attacker with the ball to enter the attacking third as well but has to pass.

Let final third have an extra defender when a second attacker enters the area to create a 2v2.

Regression - 

Striker only allowed 2 touches before shooting.

Striker not allowed to shoot in the area.

Allow a 2nd Defender in the final third.

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Team that scores most points is the winner.

Give defenders a point for winning the ball and playing it to their own team member in the middle third.