Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): FAW U14's Defending Session

Defensive Body Position (10 mins)

Organisation:

Two pitches 15x10 area

Red and Blue goals at both ends of both pitches

4 Players per pitch, two at either end

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Rules:

Players at the bottom end pass to players at the top. Then play is 1vs1. Attacker is trying to score in either of the goals at the bottom by dribbling over the line (ball must be under control). Defender is trying to stop them and win the ball back. Players go to the back of their own line after each play.

If Attacker scores in the Red goa, they get 1 Point.

If Attacker scores in the Blue goal they get 5 Points.

Play 8 balls then swap roles of teams around. Count number of points per team.

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Progression:

-If Defenders win the ball, they can now go and try and score in the opposite goals.

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Coaching Points:

-Fast then SLOW approach

-Arc Run

-Body Position

-Force opponents one way (away from Blue goal)

Defensive Positioning (25 mins)

Organisation:

25x36 Pitch

Split into two 25x18 halfs.

Two Teams

Two Wide Goals at one end

One Central Goal at the opposite end

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Rules:

Blues try to Dribble through the two Wide goals to score. Reds try to Dribble through the one Central goal to score. If a team loses possession, the nearest player can try and win the ball back immediately if they want, but the rest of the team must immediately retreat to their own half and defend from there.

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Coaching Points:

-Reds must try to force their opponents inside the pitch, using body position, support of 2nd and 3rd defenders, and Compactness in Wide Areas.

-Blues must try to force their opponents outside the pitch, using body position, support of 2nd and 3rd defenders and compactness in the central area of the pitch

-Body Position of Closest Defender - Showing Which Way?

-Position of 2nd Defender - Helping Show Which Way?

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Progressions:

-add orange cones in. Players can now pass the ball through a goal to score once they get past the orange cones - Players must now close down higher up the pitch

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Time:

-Play for 10 minutes then swap teams around and play for a further 10 minutes