Warm up: Delay, deny, defend

WHY USE IT

This session works on players’ organisation and communication when out-of-possession, helping delay the opponent’s attack, deny time and space, dictate the play and ultimately, defend the goal.

Set-up

Mark out a square area per six players, relative to the age and ability of your players. Each square needs one attacker on each outer line and two defenders in the middle of the area. You can add an extra attacker to the middle of the area if numbers allow.

HOW it works

This warm-up is set up like a basic rondo. The four attackers aim to maintain possession, with the two defenders looking to win the ball back. Each pair of defenders gets one minute to see how many times they can regain possession, or force attackers to misplace a pass out of play, before swapping over.

PROGRESSIONS

Progress so that defenders only get a point if they are able to regain possession and dribble out of the area, or force attackers to misplace a pass out of play.

COACHING POINTS

Encourage the nearest defender to press the ball (communicating ‘ball’), and their partner to communicate for them to force play in a particular direction (‘show left/right’), while providing cover on that side, ready to press the next pass.

Defenders should remain compact so as not to be split by a through ball. Remind defenders they don’t have to win the ball every time, but to remain patient and wait to pounce on a mistake (e.g. under-hit pass, heavy touch).