Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Coaching the Back 4 Defenders

Session #2 Defenders Winning the Ball Back (15 mins)

Coaching Session #2: Opponents in Possession of the ball; defenders learning to win the ball back as soon as possible

Grid Size: 50 yards (length) X 30 yards (wide); using 2 small goals and 1 full size goal with a goalkeeper

Extensive Interval; Small Game Form; Number of Balls: 20 per session

Number of players: 2 sets of 4 attackers (white uniforms); 2 sets of 3 defenders (dark uniforms)

Key Players: center fullbacks; outside fullbacks and defensive mid-fielders

Number of bouts: 4 X 4 minutes (2 minute recovery); each player set executes 4 X 4 minutes (2 minute recovery). Length of session: 22 minutes

What: learning to control time and space using control and restraint; Where: M-3; D-3; When: D/ A-D

Technically: move quickly and slow down quickly; use an angled approach; low center of gravity; communicate technical information as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defenders

Tactically: defenders need to learn how to close; cover, mark and track opposing players; control time and space

Activity: To prevent 4 attacking players from scoring (or getting past the defenders); defenders try to win the ball back; the offside rule applies; play can be played on the ground or in the air; attackers have a maximum of three touches on the ball; defenders try to win the ball using two touches and a maximum of four passes to score when they gain possession of the ball.

Objectives: Win the ball with one man less; cut off passing options close to the ball; learn to cut off passing lanes; do not mark the the fourth attacker when he is not close to the ball;

Tactical Cues: read the opponent's ability to control the ball and pass; if the opponent has bad ball control or cannot pass be prepared to close down the opponent because of bad technique; quality of the pass - can bad weight and pace on the ball give you time to intercept the pass, if the ball is moving slowly

Technical Cues: does the passer have good field vision; does he need to look at the ball when making ball contact; does the player in possession of the ball have different scanning techniques before he passes the ball; does the player in possession of the ball have good deception techniques

Session #4 Train back 4 defenders and 2 midfielders (20 mins)

Coaching Session 4: Training Game: Train back 4 defenders and 2 midfielders (4 CBs; 1 DM; 1 CM) to defend as a unit. Grid Size:(depending on number of players per session): 1/2 Field; 7v 7 (80 yds in (l) and 50 yds in (w)); 6 v 6 (70 yds in (l) and 40 yds in (w)); 5 v 5 (60 yds in (l) and 35 yds in (w)); (1) use two small goals and scoring zone; (2) use to one big goal and two small goals; (3) substitute small goals with cones. Intensive Endurance; Medium Game Form; Number of Balls: 20 per session. Number of Players: 10 players for 5 v 5; 12 players for 6 v 6; 14 players for 7 v 7; Key Players (Who): 2 CBs; 1 LB; 1 RB; 1 DM; 1 CM (yellow team); 2 ST; 1 CM; 1 DM; 1RM; 1 LM (white team). Number of Bouts: 2 X 10 min (2 min recovery); Length of Session: 22 min. What: Train the 2 CBs; LB; RB; DM; CM to react, & step to pressure the ball; retain a compact a form when sliding from weak side to strong side. Where: M-3(defensive-half)/ D-3; When: A-D/ D; Why: to learn to defend in the defensive half of the field as a unit limiting space and time for opponents to make decisions with the ball.

Technical: move quickly (quick reactions), anticipation; technical accuracy; defensive players learn when to step (pressure) the opponent and when not to drop off. 

Technical Cues: does the passer have good field vision; does he need to look at the ball when making ball contact; does the player in possession of the ball have different scanning techniques before he passes the ball.

Tactical: players need to know when to pressure and close; cover; mark and track opposing players. Defensive unit needs to learn when to slide as a team; from the weak side to the strong side of the field. LB & RB learn to pressure the opponents LM & RM; DM & CM (yellow) learn to support and fill gaps when the defensive unit shifts to the strong side. 

Tactical Cues: read the opponent's ability to control and pass the ball; if the opponent has bad ball control or cannot pass be prepared to close down the opponent because of bad technique and abiltiy to make a quality pass.

Activity: Session #1 : 1/2 field will be used and two teams will play. The yellow team has 6 defending players (2 CBs; 1 LB; 1 RB; 1 DM; 1 CM; 1 goalkeeper); the white team has 6 attacking players (2 STs; 1 1 CM; 1 DM; 1 RM; 1 LM). The yellow team defends (they win the ball back or deny opportunity to score), retain possession and score in the small goals and the white team attempts to score on the large goal. The coach passes to the white DM (6). The DM plays a ball unopposed to the RM (7). Defenders use 3 touch then 2 touch to play out of the back.

Defending Objectives: Defenders learn to step (pressure); slide from the weak side to the strong side as a unit (synchronization); Back 4 defenders learn step up when opponent makes negative passes and defenders learn to drop when ball is being played long over the top.

Activity: Session #2: Same as: Session #1 adding a #10 attacking midfielder, defenders play against 3 attackers.