By: touchtight coaching

SCAN ME

VIDEO

SESSION 151.

Organised Defending
Minimum Age: U12+ Number of Players: 12+ Duration: 120 Minutes

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 Club Age Group Coach Session Title Date Start Time Duration No. of Players

Organisation
This quick attack v defence practice provides 1 v 1, 2 v 1 and 2 v 2 situations, with 2 large goals
protected by 2 keepers and 2 mini goals positioned on the side of a 30 by 25 yard playing area.

The coach plays a pass for a 1 v 1, with players having to run around a cone and race to gain
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possession of the ball to score in a mini goal. Whichever player scores, a teammate joins in to attack
VIDEO in a 2 v 1 in the larger goal, before a member of the opposition joins in to create a 2 v 2 to attack the
opposite end. 

Key Coaching Points

1. Body shape and approach of defender to show the attacker into one area

2. If in a 1v2 situation, try and isolate the attacker (stop the pass)

3. Reaction of players when the play transitions from defence to attack

4. Cover and support of team mates to defend as a pair or unit

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Progressions

1. Begin the practice as a 2v2 into the mini goals

2. On scoring a goal, the opposition team can bring an extra player in to make it a 2v3- encouraging
players to react quickly to transition

Player Questions
Coach Notes
1. Why is your body shape and approach important?

2. What triggers are you looking for (to tell you to press/ tackle)?

3. Why is communication important?

1. Space: Increase/ decrease the size of the area dependant on age or

4. How do you slow down a counter attack
challenge

2. Time: Consider length of time (work to rest ratio)

Area Size Duration Sets

3. Equipment: Add in a scoring zone, increasing the recovery run distance

4. Players: Add/ remove defenders to increase/ decrease challenge

Intensity Work to Rest Ratio Energy Type

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 Club Age Group Coach Session Title Date Start Time Duration No. of Players

Organisation

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This possession based football practice, focuses on splitting the defensive unit of 4 by combining in
front and behind their line. In a 25 by 25 yard area, we have 3 teams of 4, with a single team
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defending in their horizontal team shape. 

SCAN ME THEME 12 | PRACTICE 5 (12-P5)
DEFENDING CENTRALLY | OPPOSED PRACTICE
The 2 possession teams work together, with 2 of each team in a 5 yard end zone at each end to
VIDEO support 4 central players who look to combine in front and behind defenders.
1

2 Key Coaching Points

5
4
3
1. Horizontal compactness

2. Pressing triggers (e.g poor pass or touch)

3. Defensive shape in the pressing lanes

4. Transition from attack to defence

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Progressions

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1. Allow a defender to press in the end zone

2. End players must combine before playing the ball in (encouraging movement of attackers and

3
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discipline of defenders)

3. Extra points awarded every time the attackers break a defensive line.

Coach Notes Player Questions

1. Space: Increase/ decrease the size of the area dependant on age or 1. Why is communication amongst defenders important

challenge.
2. What is important about your press?

2. Time: Consider length of time (work to rest ratio)

3. What pressing triggers are you looking for?
3. Equipment: Add in more/ less hurdles or ladders to change footwork pattern)

4. Players: Add in striker to play 1v1

Area Size Duration Sets

Intensity Work to Rest Ratio Energy Type

© Touchtight Coaching
 Club Age Group Coach Session Title Date Start Time Duration No. of Players

Player
Detail any individuals, pairs, trios and units to work on in the group and specify what detail you will be developing within each session element.

Player(s) Objective Tech / Tact / Soc / Phy / Psych Evaluation

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Evaluation

Coach (Self) Players (Motivation / Engagement / Learning)

Session Organisation Action Points

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