Tewksbury Soccer Club Register

U12 9V9 DEFENDING

Week 7 · Session goal

Improve preventing the opponent from building up and creating scoring chances in our half - 1

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MomentDEFENDING
Duration60 minutes
Players16
Format9V9

Player actions

Protect the goal, Pressure, Cover & Balance, Outnumber the opponent

Key qualities

Understand the game, Focus, Optimal technical and 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 · 1.5 min rest

Objective

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

Player actions

Protect the goal, Pressure, Cover & Balance, Outnumber the opponent.

Organization

In our own half set up two or more 22Wx35L fields with a small goal at each end. Play 1v1, 2v1, 2v2 up to 4v4. Play for 20 minutes with two 1.5 minute breaks. Play with kick - ins or 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 wordsIn frontForce awayHelpDouble.

Guided questions

What do we do when we place a player in front of the ball?

Protect the goal

How can we force the attacker with the ball away?

We Pressure the attacker with the ball

Where should the other defenders be to help?

They should be behind the pressing defender providing cover and balance

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

5v4 to 4 small goals

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, Pressure, Cover & Balance, Outnumber the opponent.

Organization

In the defensive half of a 9v9 field, set up a 50Wx30L field with 4 small goals as shown. The 5 Blue players: 2 defenders, 1 midfielder and 2 wingers will try to regain the ball and score in one of the two small goals in the midfield. The 4 Red team: 1 midfielder, 2 wingers and 1 striker will try to score in one of the two small goals. All Laws of the game in effect. 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 wordsIn frontForce awayHelpDouble.

Guided questions

Who should get in between the ball and the goal?

The closest defender to the ball will protect the goal

What does the closest defender do to force the ball away?

Presses the ball by approaching the attacker on an angle

Who Helps the pressing defender?

The other defenders provide cover and balance

When is a good time to double team the attacker with the ball?

We will double when we outnumber the opponent

Coach note

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

3

Less challenging

4v3 to small goals

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, Pressure, Cover & Balance, Outnumber the opponent.

Organization

In our half set up two 22Wx35L fields with a small goal on one end and two small goals in the other end. Play 4v3. The Blue team: 4 players against the Red Team: 3 players. Blue team scores in one of the small goals and the Red scores in the small goal. Play with kick -ins or dribble-ins when the ball goes out of bounds. 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 wordsIn frontForce awayHelpDouble.

Guided questions

What do we do when we place a player in front of the ball?

Protect the goal

How can we force the attacker with the ball away?

We Pressure the attacker with the ball

Where should the other defenders be to help?

They should be behind the pressing defender providing cover and balance

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: 5v5 to small goals DURATION: 20 min -- INTERVALS: 3 --ACTIVITY: 5 min --REST: 1.5 min

4

Play phase

The Game - 8V8

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, Pressure, Cover & Balance, Outnumber the opponent.

Organization

In a 9v9 field (50wx80L) play 8v8. The Blue team will play in 1-2-2-3 formation and the Red team will play in 1-3-3-1 formation. SKILL ACQUISITION: Speed and Angle of Approach, Distance of Approach, Footwork, Body Shape and Types of Tackles - Poke or Block.

Key wordsIn frontForce awayHelpDouble.

Guided questions

Why should we get in between the ball and the goal?

To protect the goal

Who should force the attacker and the ball away?

The closest defender to the ball after he got defenders behind him

Why do we help the pressing defender?

To provide cover and balance

What do we need to do to double team the attacker with the ball?

Outnumber the attacker by having more defenders around

Coach note

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

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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?