Tewksbury Soccer Club Register

U10 7V7 Defending

Week 7 · Session goal

Improve preventing the opponent from building up in their own half - 1

Download PDF
MomentDefending
Duration60 minutes
Players12
Format7V7

Key qualities

Read the game, Focus, Optimal physical abilities

Skill acquisition

Pressure: Angle and Speed of approach, Distance, Body position, Tackle choice (poke or block) - Cover: Distance, body position.

The session

1

Play phase

Intentional Free Play

20 min3 intervals · 5 min play · 2 min rest

Objective

To prevent the opponent from moving the ball forward and regain the ball.

Player actions

Protect the goal, Steal the ball, Pressure, Cover & Balance.

Organization

In a 7v7 field set up two 19Wx30L fields with a small goal at each end. Play 1v1, 2v1, up to 3v3. Play 3 rounds for a total of 20 minutes. Play with kick-ins and dribble-ins when the ball goes out of bounds. SKILL ACQUISITION: Speed and Angle of Approach, Distance of Approach, Footwork, Body Shape and Types of Tackles - Poke or Block.

Key wordsBlock the wayClosest defenderAnd Help.

Guided questions

What should the closest defender to the ball do?

The closest defender to the ball should stand between the ball and the goal to protect the goal and pressure the attacker with the ball

How can the other defenders help?

They will provide cover

Coach note

First break, the coach asks questions to the players, players do not answer them but play to discover the answers. Second break, the coach asks questions and players will answer them.

2

Core activity

4v5 to goal & an end zone

20 min3 intervals · 5 min play · 1.5 min rest

Objective

To prevent the opponent from moving the ball forward and regain the ball.

Player actions

Protect the goal, Steal the ball, Pressure, Cover & Balance.

Organization

In a 7v7 field, set up a 24Wx35L playing area with a regular goal and an end zone. The 4 Blue players: 1 midfielder 2 wingers and 1 striker will try to regain the ball and score in the regular goal. The 5 Red players: 1 GK, 2 defenders, 1 midfielder and 1 striker will try to score in the end zone by dribbling or passing. Play with a build out line. All Laws of the game in effect. If the Blue team scores, the Red team gets a goal-kick to restart the game. Rotate players every interval. SKILL ACQUISITION: Speed and Angle of Approach, Distance of Approach, Footwork, Body Shape and Types of Tackles - Poke or Block.

Key wordsBlock the wayHassleAnd Help.

Guided questions

How can we block the way forward?

Protect the goal by standing between the ball and the goal

Why does the closest defender need to hassle the player with the ball?

To apply pressure and regain the ball

Where do the other defenders go to help?

They get behind the pressing defender to provide cover and balance

Coach note

Switch to Less Challenging if this activity is too difficult or to More Challenging if it is too easy.

3

Less challenging

4v4 to goal & an end zone

20 min4 intervals · 4 min play · 1 min rest

Objective

To prevent the opponent from moving the ball forward and regain the ball.

Player actions

Protect the goal, Steal the ball, Pressure, Cover & Balance.

Organization

In a 7v7 field, set up a 24Wx35L playing area with a regular goal and an end zone. The 4 Blue players: 1 midfielder 2 wingers and 1 striker will try to regain the ball and score in the regular goal. The 5 Red players: 1 GK, 2 defenders and 1 midfielder, will try to score in the end zone by dribbling or passing. Play with a build out line. All Laws of the game in effect. If the Blue team scores, the Red team gets a goal-kick to restart the game. Rotate players every interval. SKILL ACQUISITION: Speed and Angle of Approach, Distance of Approach, Footwork, Body Shape and Types of Tackles - Poke or Block.

Key wordsBlock the wayClosest defenderAnd Help.

Guided questions

What should the closest defender to the ball do?

The closest defender to the ball should stand between the ball and the goal to protect the goal and pressure the attacker with the ball

How can the other defenders help?

They will provide cover

Coach note

Switch to this activity if the CORE is too difficult for the players. Week 7 FIVE ELEMENTS of TRAINING EXERCISE TRAINING SESSION SELF-REFLECTION QUESTIONS 1. Organized: Is the exercise organized in the right way? 2. Game like: Is the exercise game like? 3. Repetitions: Are there repetitions when looking at the overall goal of the session? 4. Challenging: Are the players being challenged? (Is there the right balance between being successful and unsuccessful?) 5. Coaching: Is there the proper coaching based on the age/level of the players? 1. How did you achieve your goals in the training session? 2. What did you do well? 3. What could you do better? MORE CHLLENGING: 4v5 to goal & an end zone

4

Play phase

The Game - 6V6

20 min2 intervals · 8 min play · 2 min rest

Objective

To prevent the opponent from moving the ball forward and regain the ball.

Player actions

Protect the goal, Steal the ball, Pressure, Cover & Balance.

Organization

In a 7v7 field (40Wx60L) play 6v6. The Blue will play in 1-1-3-1 formation and Red teams will play in a 1-2-1-2 formation. SKILL ACQUISITION: Speed and Angle of Approach, Distance of Approach, Footwork, Body Shape and Types of Tackles - Poke or Block.

Key wordsBlock the wayClosest defenderAnd Help.

Guided questions

Why do we need to put a defender between the ball and the goal to block the way forward?

To protect the goal - 2 The closest defender to the ball

Who should be the defenders that block the way forward?

Pressure the ball

Now that the closest defender is in front of the ball what do we want him/her to do?

They provide cover and balance by getting behind the pressing defender

How can the other defenders help him to prevent the ball from moving forward?

Coach note

All Laws of the game and US Soccer Player Development Initiatives (PDI) are in effect.

Download the PDF 454 KB

Check your setup

Five elements of a training exercise

1

Organized — Is the exercise organized in the right way?

2

Game like — Is the exercise game like?

3

Repetitions — Are there repetitions when looking at the overall goal of the session?

4

Challenging — Are the players being challenged? Is there the right balance between being successful and unsuccessful?

5

Coaching — Is there the proper coaching based on the age and level of the players?

After the session

Self-reflection

How did you achieve your goals of the training session?

What did you do well?

What could you do better?