Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defense U11/U12

Defensive Warmup

Focus: Defensive footwork warmup built in with dribbling/passing. Introduction of language and defensive concept.

Setup: Multiple grids of two cones each. Appr. 12 yd apart. 4 to 6 per grid. Set up two grids in box and one more just outside the arc (if needed)

Game Progressions and Coaching Points:

Progression 1: Dribble/Defender Warmup - Dribbler lace dribbles forward from one cone to next while defender runs backward and tries to beat him to the cone (running backwards). When dribbler gets near cone, he lays ball off (no pass; let it roll) to waiting player, and then dribbler becomes defender and runs backward. 1) Quick feet and quick transition (stay focused) 2) let ball roll off dribble; no pass 3) Can change to side run or low defensive stance

Progression 2: Dribble Hesitation/Defender Mark - Same as progression 1, except now defender will do some sort of hesitation or feint at least once (max twice) before hitting cone and laying off. Defender must pause, stay ahead of dribbler, and restart quickly to work on staying in tackle zone and restarting. 1) On stop, stay off the front shoulder where you could tackle a cut, but be prepared to sprint as well. 2) Keep knees bent; ready to sprint.

Progression 3: Dribble turn/Defender retreat sprint - All players now start on one side of the grid. Dribbler dribbles to cone; performs turn move at cone (i.e. "L" turn), and speed dribbles with laces back to original cone. Defender runs backwards to first cone; goes around cone quickly; and sprints forward in recovery run to touch starting cone before dribbler returns. Dribbler becomes defender. 1) dribbler must perform move at cone; not before 2) dribbler quick move and speed 3) teach defender to cut off angle of dribbler force away from cone. 4) give defender a pt or dribbler for who reaches first. 5) Add in defender gets into defensive stance upon reaching cone

Progression 4: Touch Tight - Continue playing dribble game you are on. Coach yells "touch tight". Everyone freezes and defenders touch their dribbler while being goalside/ball side of the grid next to them. In sample above, yellow would look at blue grid; blue to yellow; red acts as a "6" and defends whichever grid they choose (yellow or blue). 1) Knees bent; ready to pounce 2) Correct ball side and goal side mark

Progression 5: Pass Combo/Defender Recovery Run - Four players are split again (2 on each side). Player A begins with a forward pass to other cone to player B. then he follows pass and breaks out at an angle to perform a wall pass around the other cone. Immediately, Player B passes long to continue sequence while player A turns and sprints in recovery trying to get to cone before wall pass can be made. 1) Work up to defender runs at passers and they pass around defender 2) "Ball goes behind us; we sprint into retreat"; no jog

Delay and Deny SSG

Setup: 26x20 grid. Big goal and two small counter goals. Arc of flat cones starting at 5 yds from end of grid.

Game: 3 reds attack with the ball with 2 blues defending. Play starts by a blue defender on the post (A) passing a ball out to 3 red attackers. Once the reds take first touch (or enter into arc), another blue can release from position C to recover and defend (3v3). If blues win ball, they attempt to find the two smaller goals (goals = center mids). Play 2 min game and see which team can win the game. 1 pt per goal.

Coaching Points: Delay the play and allow for recovery, Create traps against forwards, Awareness of ball - space - team mates - attackers, 1. Whats' going on with the ball? 2. Wheres my friends? 3. Where's the most immediate threat?