Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 1 v 1 Defending

Technical (15 mins)

Organization:

12 players, 2 players per group, 1 ball.

Instructions:

Different variations of technical work.

1. pass with inside

2. pass with laces

3. heading

4. pass while in the air with inside, laces.

5. recevie with chest and pass back

Coaching Points:

be on toes and ready.

position body correctly

can we use the correct technique

how can we pass back accurately

how can we use our body to help us pass back

Progressions:

do all above while moving backwards and forward

Main Activity 1: 1v1 Defending (15 mins)

Organization:

- Same organization as previous slide, however players are in corners of the square, diagonal from each other as shown.

- One player with a ball vs 1 player

Instructions (passive defender):

- Players play 4 passes back and forth to one another.

- On the 4th pass, the player receiving stops the ball and the passing player closes down (1)

- Once the defending player closes the space, the player with the ball dribbles while changing direction every few touches until they reach the opposite corner of the square (2)

- Once reaching the opposite corner, the defender retreats to opposite corner, player w/ ball plays pass and process repeats.

Coaching Points:

- Close space quickly, smaller/shorter steps as you approach defender. Can I get attacker's head down?

- Bent run: make play predictable

- Distance between player w/ ball and yourself: based on defender's / attacker's speed and quickness

- Jockey: how (body shape) / maintain comfortable distance - close enough to win ball if needed

- When to tackle / How to tackle

Progressions:

- Attacker takes heavy touch, defender wins ball

- Go live, attacker must touch cone w/ ball

Main Activity 3: 3v3 Defending (15 mins)

Organization:

3v3 game with 2 goals. there are 3 zones in which are played 1v1

Instructions:

3v3 regular rules, trying to score on the goal

Coaching Points:

- Starting Position: Deny penetration, Close enough to pressure (judging distance), Body shape (see both attackers).

- Reading Body Shape: Head up / down (cannot see me, therefore I can close space as ball travels.

- Can I intercept pass?

- Can i cut nuetral out to create 1v1?

- Should I drop off?

- Returning to proper starting position if I allow pass back to nuetral.

- Can I squeeze poor pass back to nuetral and cut out live attacker (squeeze nuetral player)?

- Feint to cause bad touch / opportunity to win ball.

Progressions:

take away the zones and make it a regular 3v3 unrestricted game