Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Man-Marking/Goal Side

Break Away from your Man

Each player will find a partner. The flag will act as the goal. Each pair will have an attacker and a defender. The objective of the attacker is to get away from their defender. While the defender is trying to stay close to their partner while also staying goalside. Each round will be around 1 minute long, when the time is up stop all the players. At this moment you can tell which player won, if the attacker is away from their partner they win, if the defender has stayed close to them and stayed goalside they win. After ever round the players will switch roles. 

Progressions:

1) Start with the Flag (or Goal) on one side of the field, like how a regular goal is. The defender is just man-marking (trying to stay close to their attacker)

2) Introduce meaning of goalside and the importance. Then add it in. The defenders now must be close to the attacker and must be goalside when the timer stops. 

3) The attackers now have a ball and must dribble while the defenders stay goalside. 

4) The Flag is now moved to the middle of the field (changing the orientation of how goalside works)

Coaching Points:

- Finding the right distance while man-marking (arm length apart)

- Goalside means having your body between the ball/attacker and the goal

Regular SSG

Regular small sided game is played. Throw-ins, corners and goalkicks occur. 

Coaching Points:

- Personal responsibility

- Finding the right distance while man-marking (arm length apart)

- Goalside means having your body between the ball/attacker and the goal