Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Body Initiation and Opposed Ball Control (Start Time: 2023-03-29 17:45:00)

Body Initiation (15 mins)

Building on from last session, the players are now going to use the learned hook turns and cuts to maintain control of the ball while opposed. 

Phase 1)  2 x 2 minute intervals: Each set, a player holds the ball for the entire 2 minutes. Defenders are to apply only physical pressure without committing to a challenge. 

Things to look for:

• Bent Knees
• Keeping the ball in close control, always close enough for a touch
• Keep the ball on the outside foot
• Arm out and body weight over nearest foot to defender
• Chest up, important to keep vision to make the correct decision (Hold, pass, take-on, shot)
• Set the tempo, push back to help maintain posture and look to push off when decision is made. 

Phase 2) 2 x 2 minute intervals: Defender is now allowed to challenge. Must challenge while standing, no slide tackles. 

Phase 3) 4 x 2 minute intervals : The player in possession now must look to get the ball over the line. The defender must look to delay them and make a challenge when the opportunity arises. If the ball is out , play must start back on the red line. Aim is for the player to get over the orange line. If they do, they can start from the opposite red line. Since there will be upward of 8 groups, player must also keep their head up not to run into opposing players. 

1 vs 1 (15 mins)

• Defenders Start on small cone behind middle poles. Attacker starts on pole line. The next attacker in plays the ball into the attacker on the middle line who turn with the ball to face the goal + defender. 
• Defenders should look to close down space fast and approach in defensive stance looking to: 1) Apply physical pressure with hand extended, 2) Look to delay 3) Shape towards wide corridor. 
• Attackers look to score in the 3 metre goals. Bigger to avoid making defending easy. 
• Set up 2 Squares, 8 in each. 

Warm Down (5 mins)

Captains warm down 

• Up to half way