Description

Warm-up exercises:

A: Shadow defending & ball manipulation: red players perform a number of ball manipulation exercises moving forwards, blue players move backwards shadowing as defenders.

Ball manipulation exercises: (i) inside-inside (ii) sole-sole (iii) inside-outside dribble - 1 foot and both feet (iv) sole dribble zig-zags.

B: Individual defending, closing down: Blue player passes to red and closes down taking an appropriate defending position, red then passes to second red player and blue closes and likewise to final red player.

Challenge defending player to cut a backward pass or sideway pass as the ball travels.

Technical

Side-on

foot movements

Arms up

Eyes on ball

Speed in & slow down

Tactical

Body angle and arching run to cut passes

Physical

Acceleration and deceleration

Balance and coordination

Psychological/Social

Teamwork

Attitude to develop good habits

Learning Objectives

1. Individual defenending techniques

2. Warm-up and introduce basic points for session

Description

Possession play; 2 vs 2 plus 3 neutral players (1 within square and 2 target players). Team in possession aim to combine to work ball from end to end.

Technical

Speed and angle of closing

Body angle and position

Eyes on ball

Tactical

Compact starting position - prevent forward pass/turn

Decision when to press/intercept

Where to angle attacker

Cover position of second defender

Physical

Acceleration/deceleration

Body strength

Balance

Psychological/Social

Competition

Numerous decision making within games

Teamwork

Learning Objectives

1. Defending within game play.

2. Creative attacking and ball retention.

Description

Red player (attacker) dribbles to beat blue player (defender), attacker achieves 2 points if beats defender and stops ball on line or 1 point if uses server to beat defender and stop on line. Players then rotate pitches from pitch A - B - A.

Progression: split pitch into two or three zones and defender achieves 2 points for winning ball in most advanced zone and 1 point for other zone.

Technical

Delay - speed in/slow down

Deflect - arch run - cut pass / 1v1

Defend - how and when to tackle

Tactical

Decision of where and when to press

Physical

Accleration/deceleration

Agility

Balance and coordination

Body strength

Psychological/Social

Competition

Challenge

Trial and error

Learning Objectives

1. Individual defending techniques under full pressure.

Description

Players set-up in match day positions, reds 2.1.1 and blues 2.1.1 - 3v2 in defending zones and 2v1 in attacking zone. If defenders win the ball (red) they can pass/break into attacking zone to score.

Progression: 1 blue defendr can enter red defensive zone creating a 3v3. Progress into normal SSG.

Technical

Delay - speed in/slow down

Deflect - arch run - cut pass / 1v1

Defend - how and when to tackle

Tactical

Roles and responsibilities:

Defenders: compact, press and cover.

Midfielder: screen CF, compact triangle with defenders, track runners, when to press CM.

Forward: screen forward pass, make predictable, can win high?

Physical

Accleration/deceleration

Agility

Balance and coordination

Body strength

Psychological/Social

Roles within a team.

Learning Objectives

1. Applying individual and unit defending into game positions.