Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defending Drills

Offensive Cover Under Pressure

Method: Offensive Cover Under Pressure

Coaching Points: The coach plays the ball into the red team, The blues on the corner of the square have to close down the red player before he makes a pass to one of his teammates. the red not only have to aware of where the red player is passing the ball but where the red player teammates are 

9v9 Defenders defending and then transitioning into defence

Method: 9v9 Defenders defending and then transitioning into defence

Coaching Points: 

To begin we will have 5 rounds of 3 balls. Starting with the keeper of the blue team they will attack immediately with the defenders defending. Once the ball goes out of play the coach will call a players name to get the nearest ball and play it in, meaning the defenders have to transition and change their body position, adapting to where to ball is and trying to press and effect the play immediately. After 3 football have been in play there will be a 45 second rest and debrief before starting again.

This should take roughly 20-25 minutes with the hope the balls stay in play for a reasonable amount of time and the aim is to get the defenders to transition quickly after taking a shot or loosing possession of the ball. They will always be on the back foot with the other team starting with the ball.