Session #9: A Focus On Individual And Small Group Defending Principles

pdf of Session #9: U13-U18 Train To Train / Train To Compete Session#9

Individual Defending Warm Up

A – Get around the ball / Feet turned in same direction as the dribbler
B – Pick up the speed of the ball
C – Body Before Ball ‘Step Across’
D – Step across with contact after the first touch
E – Step across with contact after the second touch

1v1 Defending – Corners

1v1 Attacking the CORNERS
– Players begin at the opposite corners of the 12 x 12 area,
– The exercise begins with a pass from one corner to the other,
– Players play 1v1 toward their corners. If the ball is won by the defender, they continue to play back toward the other line. Game is over when someone dribbles across their opponent’s end line or the ball goes out of bounds.

Encourage:
– Getting feet turned
– Directing / Deflecting
– Being patient
– Stepping across the front with contact …. Body Before Ball

1v1 Defending End Line

1v1 Attacking an END LINE
– Players begin at the opposite ends of the 12 x 12 area,
– The exercise begins with a pass from one end to the other,
– Players play 1v1 toward their end lines. If the ball is w on by the defender, they continue to play back toward the other line. Game is over when someone dribbles across their opponent’s end line or the ball goes out of bounds,

Encourage:
– Getting feet turned
– Directing / Deflecting
– Being patient
– Stepping across the front with contact …. Body Before Ball

2v2 Transition
Area: 15x15For Engagement and Covering (2nd Defender)Players in pairs and attempt to score by dribbling into their opponent’s end zone. If they score they turn and attack the other end while the team that just got scored on leaves the field. The next team must come on quickly and defend the opposite goal. If a team kicks the ball out of bounds they are off and a new team enters after passing a ball to one end or the other.Encourage:
– 1st defender DENY the pass or route to goal,

DELAY the dribbler allowing your teammate to get organized (remember you may have been in attacking shape and need recovery time),

– DEFLECT/DIRECT then get feet turned and make contact.
– 2v1 defending – Keep both in front until your teammate recovers.
– Enter the field and ‘DROPDOWN’ in order to defend the goal first.
– Closest player to the ball close down.

3v3 Transition / 3v3 Defending …. with engagement.

1. PRESSURE or 1st Defender
2. COVERing Defender
3. Keeping BALANCE

FINAL GAME

4v4 or 5v5 with Goalkeepers
– Focus on Individual Defending and Small Group Defending Principles.