Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Blocking and/or Defending a Cross including Goalkeepers

Activity before practice (10 mins)

Arrival Activity:

Individual juggling with the ball (change every minute)

• Have the players juggle with their right foot, left foot, thighs, and inside of the foot

• Count to 20
• Count to 30
• Say the Alphabet
• Spell the coach's names
  • The juggling as a team can consist of only feet, and or all of the body.
  • If the group is okay with the challenge, you can see how many times you can head the ball  

Coaching Points:

Guide them in what is expected in the individual juggling 

Give them different challenges when the activity turns to team juggling

Block/Defend Warm-up

The objective of the warmup is to attack the ball, in a controlled manner, like you are defending a cross

With respect to blocking/defending a Cross, we want to see the player(s) run towards the player who is tossing the ball and attack the ball bumping it back to the tossing player.

When you change the players in the middle with 4 new ones from the outside, give the players 1 minute of individual dynamic stretching 

The playing area is 25x25

Action 1: 30-second burst

Bump the ball with the inside of the right foot straight back to the tosser

Each Blue player in the middle must seek a different colored tosser each time 

After 30 seconds, change the players in the middle (repeat)

Action 2: 30-second burst

Bump the ball with the inside of the left foot back to the tosser

Each Blue player in the middle must seek a different colored tosser each time

After 30 seconds, change the players in the middle (repeat)

Action 3: 30 Second Burst

The player must diagonally bump the ball to a different colored pinnies

For example, the Blue Player receives the toss from the yellow player and bumps the ball with the inside of the right foot to the pink player

Rotation of players after each 30 seconds

Action 4: 30 Second Burst

The same as Action 3 but now with the inside of the left foot

Action 5: 30 Second Burst

The Blue player receives the ball from the tosser and heads it right back

Rotation of players after 30 seconds

Action 6: 30 Second Burst

The same action as 3 & 4 however you are heading the ball diagonally 

Coaching Points:

Quick change of direction

Communication - Call the ball

Attack the ball but your pass must be done in a controlled manner

Body open to the tosser - check over shoulder

Analytical

Defending the Cross as a Player

Exercise 2

Coach in the middle with lots of soccer balls

3 lines in the middle (1 Blue - 1 Purple)

The Coach sends a ball into the right-side corner just inside the 18-yard box

The Purple Player will then run onto the ball and cross it into the penalty area 

The 2 Blue defenders must get back to recover the cross and secure the ball before it gets through by blocking it out of the penalty zone area

2 purple attacker joins the play in the center to make it a 2v2 situation

After 5-6 sequences from the right side, the Coach switches sides

Coaching Points: 

1. Scanning: The defenders need to scan while running back into position to make sure that they are covering the appropriate players (Don't concentrate only on the ball)

2. Body Position: Goal side: The player is between the attacker and the goal with his body open on an angle in order to see the ball, the field, and any other attacker that may join the play

3. Block the cross: The defender closest to the winger must make a decision as to whether they can block the cross before it is done (Follow the ball in the air and attack it moving forward

Extra Points to add

• Recover in a high position in the penalty area between the goalie and the player
• Good communication between the players
• Body position is open with a slight angle so that you can see the ball and player and the field
• Attack the ball with a header, chest, or block with the right or left foot
• Make sure that you do not overtake the goalie's area

Progression

1 - Add a 3v2 situation where a 3rd defender comes into play.  It is extremely important that the defender in his/her recovery position is between his goal and the attacker in an open and angled stance to be able to scan the ball and the attacker coming in.

2 -  Add a 4v3 situation where the opposite winger can sneak in forcing the 4 defenders to scan and protect any back-door runs.

Defend the Cross Small Game (20 mins)

Small Game Format

The Blue team starts with the ball. In order for a goal to be scored, it must come from a cross first. In the middle section, at one end, we have a 3v2 situation with a trailing defender (C). This player is a support player to the defenders. Once the cross is made, the defenders need to try and block the ball and play it to the C player on their team. If so, they play the ball to the wing on the opposite side of the field. We now have the purple team attacking the Blue.  

Defending the ball and getting it out of the penalty area is worth 1 point. If the attackers score a goal, it is a -1 for the defenders.

Coaching points:

• Recover in a high position in the penalty area between the goalie and the player
• Good communication between the players
• Body position is open with a slight angle so that you can see the ball and player and the field
• Attack the ball with a header, chest, or block with the right or left foot
• Make sure that you do not overtake the goalie's area

Progressions:

• Allow the Purple Winger to defend the Blue Winger and vice-versa
• 2 pts for the defence if the Goaltender is able to recuperate the ball directly off of the cross