Practice: Defending early

WHY USE IT

This three-part session works on defending early, being on the front foot to regain possession by being compact, and working within a unit. This phase-of-play practice builds on the warm-up, to create a more game-realistic scenario and start to work as a unit when defending (press, cover and balance).

Set-up

Mark out an area relative to the age and ability of your players. Place a goal centrally at one end, and two mini goals wider at the other end. Mark a line roughly three-quarters of the way up the area. The game should ideally be played as a 5v5, plus a goalkeeper.

HOW TO play

The ball will always start from the goalkeeper. Teams will swap roles every 10 balls. The team with the goalkeeper focuses on building out from the back and scoring in the mini goals – they can’t shoot until they have crossed the line. The other team aims to win possession as early and high up the pitch as possible and score in the main goal.

progressions & ADAPTATIONS

• If the team building from the back is taking a lot of time to do so, add a condition where they must score within 10 seconds of the goalkeeper releasing the ball. 

   

• If the pressing team isn’t being aggressive enough with their press, challenge them to win the ball back within five seconds – any goal they score can then count double.

COACHING POINTS

• Stop forward passes. The player closest to the ball should press the opponent; the next player should provide cover; the third player provides deeper balance, ready to win a long ball or press a switch of play.

   

• Once the ball is regained, both teams should transition quickly to attempt to score/win possession back.

   

• The pressing team must work as a unit and stay compact. Make play predictable by positioning your body/press to force the ball one way.