Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defensive Principles - Compactness

Main Activity (20 mins)

Organization:

Set up as shown. 3 teams of 4. Lots of balls.

For more than 12 players, add a 4th zone - A/B/A/B. Team A passes back and forth, if B intercepts then they play with their outer zone teammates. Switch inner/outer players after 5 minutes.

Instructions:

Red and Yellow team play together against Blue team. All teams must stay in their area. The Red team must pass the ball around to try and create a gap / space to get the ball through to the Yellow team. The Blue team must cover and slide across to close all gaps and stop any through balls. Bonus point for passes that split defenders.

Option 1: Play for two minutes, count how many successful passes are made from end to end. Defending team is trying to get as *low* a score as possible. Switch defending teams every two minutes.

Option 2: If the defending team get possession of the ball they pass it to the team who did not give it away and change places with thet team that lost the ball.

Coaching Points:

1. Closest defender should close space ASAP and provide pressure

2. Angle of support to provide cover (making sure you are able to stop the penetrative pass/shot)

3. Stay compact, don't get split.

Progressions:

1. After 2 passes without passing across, Blue can send one defender in to provide pressure.

2. Bonus point if you split two defenders. (So one point if you pass along the sides, two if you split the middle. This will remind defenders to stay compact and not get split.)

3. The pass across must be a one-touch pass.

Scrimmage (30 mins)

Organization:

Instructions:

Scrimmage

Coaching Points:

Progressions: