Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defending Principles - 1v1 & 2v1

1V1 - Jockey (10 mins)

Set Up: 20X10 Area

Organization:

Play within the shaded/unshaded area

Split your team into two or more equal teams. In their teams, the defending team has all the soccer balls. Defender passes a ball to attacker and quickly closes down the space and jockey the attacker back to the blue line. Once the attacker reached the blue line, the defender switches to the attacking line and the attacker with the ball becomes the defend.

Focus:

1. Close down space quickly

2. Arrive controlled (sideways position)

3. Jockey the player (stay on balls of your feet, front foot in line with the ball and keep a good distance)

4. Be ready to switch sides by moving the front foot back. 

Three Goal Game (20 mins)

Set Up: 30X25 Area 

Organization:

3v3 - pass through the gate to score.

Instructions:

Players can score in any goal by passing the ball through the gate to the opponent. Soon after passing the ball, they begin defending and the other team attack them.  

Coaching Points:

(focus on the player on the ball and manage the other two players) 

Defender tactics -

1. Close down space quickly

2. Arrive controlled (sideways position)

3. Jockey the player and force into area to win the ball (stay on balls of your feet, front foot in line with the ball and keep a good distance)

4. Be ready to switch sides by moving the front foot back.

5. Be aggressive - initiate contact to separate player from ball

3rd Def provides balance on far side while pinching in to stay connected

Where are they on the field? Close to our goals? Far away? How does that change our approach?