Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Zonal Defending

Screen 1

Set-Up

60x30 yrd grid with 4 gate goals (cones can be used to create goals also).

Red vs. Blue team.

2 Neutral players that only attack and should be in a different colour pinnie. Each plays on one side of the field.

Insert a half way line using cones.

Balls positioned behind the gate goals to allow for quick re-starts.

Instructions

The red team attack the two goals on the right side of the diagram.

The attackers for each team play with the Neutral players assigned to their half to create a 3vs2 on the two defenders.

No players can cross the half way line.

When the ball is kicked over the goal line the defenders regain possession and cannot be pressed in the 5 yrd area lined in fornt of the goals (i.e. a no press zone). If they progress in front of this line they may be pressed and challenged. If players are still not getting the ball forward easily allow the defenders to play the ball forward unopposed into their forwards when playing it in from their goal line.

1 goal = Scoring in either gate goal.

Exercise Objectives

Developing the principles for zonal defending.

Develop collective (small group) defending in and around the 18yrd area.

Developing 2vs2 defending technique.

Coaching Points

Develop defensive tandems.

Defenders should not get in an 'I' formation when defending. I.e. one directly behind the other.

One defender pressures and attempt to force play either into the other defender or to the sidelines.

The covering player should be able to defend their player(s) and recover to challenge the player being pressed by the primary 'pressing' defender.

Be patient, don't have to make a challenge!

Stress good individual technique and defending stance.

Communication between the defending players is key, especially establishing who steps and the rotation of the pressing as the ball is passed between players.

Spacing between the defenders should not get too large to allow channels to dribble through.