Session: DT.001 
 Age: 12-Adlt |
 Intensity: Medium |
 Time: 30 mins |
 Positions: All |
 Players: 16 |
 Area: 65x45 yrds |
Exercise Objectives
- Develop Individual defending in and around the 18yrd area.
- Develop collective (small group) defending in and around the 18yrd area.
- Develop a knowledge of the principles of defending in players.
Organisation
Diagram 1. Set-Up Arrangement
Set-Up
- Mark out 65x45 yrds.
- Half way line must be clearly marked.
- 2GK’s and 7vs7 on the field.
- Starting position could be used (as in a phases of play) to highlight the concepts the coach is attempting to teach. A starting position would match Diagram 1 (i.e. Turnover by the red team in the opponents half).
- Formations in 7vs7 should be 3-2-2 or 3-3-1. Both teams.
Start Position(s)
- Rule – When a team looses possession of the football in their opponents half they must drop to their own half of the field in order to initiate defending (tackles and challenges).
- 1 player is allowed to press the ball (i.e. the nearest player to prevent a quick counter attack) whilst their teammates drop into their own half with recovery runs.
- Standard offside rules are applied.
- If this rule is violated and a challenge (tackle) is made in the opponents half by anyone other than the pressing player a free kick is awarded to the team in possession.
- Variations in order to generate recovery runs are shown below.
- In the example above (Diagram 1) (used to simulate the main rule):
- D1 attempts to play a through pass to D4, which is cut out by a Yellow player.
- This initiates the start of the defending phase. D1 is closest to the ball and so immediately pressures the football to delay any counter attack attempt. All the players behind D1 drop into their own half (i.e. D2,D3,D4,D5) if they are not already in their own half. As shown in diagram 2.
Scoring
- 2 teams compete and attempt to score in the full size goals.
Coaching Points
- Nearest player to the football is responsible for providing immediate pressure and getting in line with any potential forward passing opportunity. This will also prevent the ball carrier dribbling into space.
- All players behind the pressing player should recovery to their own half immediately on loosing the football.
- Recovery runs should be angled towards the defending teams own goal (defending triangle). Refer to Diagram 3.
- Priority should be to get goal side of the ball and marks.
- Defenders mark the opponents forward. Defending mids mark opponents mids, and defending forwards pressure the opponents defenders as they approach/cross the half way line.
- Players may need to drop to a deeper position if their is an overload.
- Mark the players closest to your goal first if the opponents have an overload.
- Defenders should position themselves to be able to see the ball and their immediate opponent (mark).
- Force players inside when pressing high up the field (forcing them back into the midfield masses to deny space).
- Prevent the football being passed forward is the ultimate goal, players pressing don't have to win the ball.
- Discuss individual defending techniques, i.e. side on, get there fast arrive slow, don't over commit, on toes, focus on the ball, goal side defending, stay on feet, etc
- Slide as a unit to the side of the field the ball is on to compact the field.
- Communication - Tell team mates to press (step!) when needed and operate as a unit (i.e. shifting and sliding together).
- Man marking to deny space.
- Can we do anticipation marking (anticipate and intercept the ball before being received).
- Discuss the decision of when to press and when not to press (i.e. Can I close down and force an error or win the football, or will I just be beaten with a pass past me?).
- Press together when pressing!
Diagram 2. Players in their positions following their recovery runs.
Diagram 3. Recovery runs should generally be towards your own goal.
Diagram 4. Defending block created by the recovery runs.
Progressions
- For goals to count all players except the GK have to be in the attacking half of the field.
- Goals count double if all the defending team is not in their own half when defending.
Variations
- All players must drop into their own half on loosing the ball (i.e. their is no immediate pressing player).
- Remove the rule and allow teams to defend however they choose.
Darren Pitfield
Alexander Trukan
Heinz
Fractz
