Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Defending in the Defensive Third

Warm Up

Warm UP 20 Minutes 

In the warm-up phase, players will go through their dynamic stretches to start off practice. This should go through all major dynamic stretches throughout their body. 2x repetition per stretch.

In the warm-up phase, there is a 3v3 endzone game. Where the team out of possession is looking to stay compact and shift as a team as they must defend the entire width of the field. Coach the defensive team on being compact and showing pressure cover balance.  

Learning Phase

Activity Description: In this activity we have the Orientation Phase (Blues) vs the Learning team the (Reds). The orientation phase has 6 players (6,8,10,7,9,11) while the learning team has 8 players (1,2,3,4,5,6,8,10). The Blues will start with possession and will look to score on the red's big goal. The reds look to defend and win back possession to score on the counter goals.

In the learning phase, we are now working with the red team. The reds need to be compact and force the play wide in order to try and win the ball. We want to force play wide and shift as a team as the ball goes wide. In order to do that the reds need to be compact and minimize the distance between the midfield and defensive lines. Use the sideline as an extra defender to help win back possession to go and score on the counter goals. 

Coaching Points: Show Paint the picture moments in order to show how we want to set up defensively when defending in our own defensive third. 

Guided Questions: 

What must we be when defending? Compact

Where do we want to force play? Outside