Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): Defending Principles - Individual & Small Group Defending (U14 Boys).

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Name:	DJ Ogunlade
City:	HAMILTON
Country:	United States of America
Membership:	Adult Member
Sport:	Football/Soccer

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Description

The session is designed to develop players’ defensive qualities as individuals, in pairs and in unit.

1. Technical Warmup - During the technical warmup, a pair of defenders work to apply pressure and provide defensive cover as the ball moves from one player to another. The technical warmup is not completely unopposed; the defensive pair are required to shadow-defend as the ball passes between pairs of players.

2. Defending 4v4 - The focus remains on players’ defensive qualities, this time in the context of defending as a collective unit.

3. 4v4+2+GKs - This practice practice challenges the team out of possession to defend utilising all the defending techniques and skills that were learnt in the first two practices in an underload situation.

4. Team Development - This practice challenges the team out of possession to defend large spaces utilising all the defending techniques and skills that were learnt throughout the practice.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Technical Warmup.

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Technical Warmup.

Semi-Opposed Passing / Defending Practice (Pressure & Cover).

Organization:

Set up playing area as shown.

Instructions:

•The technical warm up exercise starts with a series of passes being played between the players as shown in the diagram with the ball progressing from the practice’s start point. Two passes are played between each pair of players (reds) before the ball is played to the pair next in line.

• As the ball is played from one player to another, the two defenders (blues) must adjust their defensive positions accordingly.

• The defenders are to work as a pivot; when one applies pressure (without making an attempt to win possession/tackle), the other must take up a covering position on the appropriate mannequin.

• As the ball changes sides, the two defensive players’ roles – as pressing player and covering player –changes.

• As the ball reaches the end point, the red players should work the ball back toward the start point using a variety of straight and diagonal passes.

• As they do so, the two defensive players should adjust their positions accordingly, ensuring that one player is covering the appropriate mannequin. This simulates the recovery runs that centre-forwards might make in a game

• Once they have completed one set up, they defend backwards back to the starting point and the defensive players change with a pair of reds players, who then become the defenders for the next set.

Coaching Points:

COMMUNICATION

• The second covering defender, who is generally positioned on a deeper line than the pressing player, should encourage the first defender to press the ball aggressively as it is switched from one side of the practice to the other.

DECISIVENESS

• Players should make quick decisions as to which player is best positioned to press the ball as it shifts from player to player.

• This decision should make it clear that the non-pressing player must take up a covering position behind the appropriate mannequin.

SHOWING INSIDE OR OUTSIDE

• The covering player should dictate to the pressing player whether they are to show inside or outside.

• This dictates how the pressing player positions themselves. Showing outside would cut off the passing line between the player in possession and the mannequin being covered. Showing inside would cutoff a route down the outside.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Defending 4v4

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Defending 4v4

Organization:

Set up as shown.

Instructions:

This is a six-goal game set up as a 4v4. The players are divided into four teams of four with two teams playing and two teams resting.

• The focus is geared toward scrutinizing how well the four defenders are able to work as a collective unit to defend three goals.

• Each time a goal is scored or the ball goes out of play, a new game starts with the attacking team becoming the defending team while the original defending team returns to the starting line to wait their turn to play as the attacking team.

• The yellow cone & yellow flags represents the restraining line / offside line.

Coaching Points (Defenders):

PRESSURE, COVER AND BALANCE

• The defending player nearest the ball should apply aggressive pressure by getting to the ball as quickly as possible. The remaining three defenders should take up good positions that allow them to cover and balance but still be aware of the movement of the other three attacking players. They should not find themselves square of the pressing player.

COMMUNICATION

• The covering players should provide the pressing player with clear information as to which way they should attempt to force the attackers’ play. This helps the pressing player be decisive and make definite decisions.

DEALING WITH AN OVERLAPPING RUN

• Should a defender find themselves in a 2v1 situation –pressing the ball-carrier but noticing an overlapping run– they should prioritise tracking the movement of the runner or blocking the goal. This is a cue for the nearest covering defender to engage the ball-carrier.

CUTTING OFF PASSING LINES

• As well as taking up a position from which paths to goal can be blocked, players should also be encouraged to block passing lines to opposition players as they press the ball.

Coaching Points (Attackers):

• The pair of attackers should be encouraged to cross lanes in order to present the defenders with a problem. This tests the defenders’ ability to communicate and remain disciplined.

• Speed of play i.e. ball speed, quick passes, quick movements on and off the ball e.t.c.

• Variety of runs i.e. overlap, under-lap, third-man runs and decoy runs etc.

Progression:

1. 4v4+2GKs.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): 4v4+2+GKs

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4v4+2+GKs

Organization:

Setup as shown.

Instructions:

The players are divided into three teams of four at the start of the small sided game, they will look to play a 4v4+2 game whenever they are in possession. Out of possession, the defending team will look to defend in an underload situation (4v6). Whenever a goal is scored, the winning team stays on while the losing team goes off and the resting team comes on to play against the winning team. In the event of a draw, the team that won the last game stays on.

Coaching Points:

• Previous coaching points when necessary.

• Pressure, cover and balance.

• Connection between the functional unit i.e. defensive unit.

• Counter attack quickly upon winning possession.

• Communication.

Football/Soccer Session Plan Drill (Colour): Team Development

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Team Development

Organization:

1. Set up playing area as shown.

2. Three counter goals.

3. Cones to represent offside line / restraining line.

Instructions:

1. Reds set up in a 1-4-3 formation while Blues set up in 3-2-3 formation.

2. Defending team (Reds) look to defend big goal and and score in the counter goals.

3. Attacking team (Blues) look to score on large goal.

4. Ball always restarts from the coach to the blue team unless otherwise specified by coach.

5. Coach also adds variations into the start point to present new challenges to the defending team.

Coaching Points (Defending Team):

1. Pressure, cover, balance, delay and compactness i.e. horizontally and vertically.

2. Move as a unit to maintain shape.

3. When/where to press vs. retreat/delay.

4. Communication - early, urgent, concise.

5. Show inside/outside - visual cues.

6. Attacking transitions.

Coaching Points (Attacking Team):

1. Spread out i.e. provide width and depth when in possession.

2. Utilize space and triangulate to create passing options.

3. Create a point of attack and then quickly look to switch the point of attack.

4. Speed of play i.e. move the ball quickly to unbalance the defending team.

Progression:

1. Exercise progresses to free play (8v8).

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