Tewksbury Soccer Club Register

U12 9V9 DEFENDING

Week 9 · Session goal

Improve preventing the opponent from scoring goals - 2

Download PDF
MomentDEFENDING
Duration60 minutes
Players16
Format9V9

Player actions

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

Key qualities

Make decisions, Be proactive, Focus

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

Deny Scoring chances.

Player actions

Protect the goal, Pressure and Cover.

Organization

In a 9v9 field set up two 19Wx24L fields with a small goal at each end. Play 1v1, 2v1, 2v2 up to 4v4. Play 3 rounds for a total of 20 minutes with two 1.5 minute breaks. 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 shotHassleHelp.

Guided questions

What do we need to do to block the shot?

Get a defender in front of the ball to protect the goal

How can we hassle the opponent with the ball?

Pressure the attacker

Where should the other defenders help?

They should be providing cover behind the pressing defender

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

6v5 to regular goals

20 min3 intervals · 5 min play · 1.5 min rest

Objective

Deny Scoring chances.

Player actions

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

Organization

In our half of a 9v9 field, set up a 50Wx30L field with two regular goals as shown. The 6 Blue players: 1GK, 3 defenders and 2 midfielders will try to regain the ball and score in the Red's goal. The 5 Red players: 1GK, 1 midfielder, 2 wingers and 1 striker will try to score in the Blue's goal. 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 wordsBlock the shotHassleHelp and Double.

Guided questions

How can a defender block the shot to goal?

Protect the goal by getting in between the ball and goal

Who will hassle the player with the ball?

The closest defender will pressure the ball

How can the other defenders help the pressing defender?

They provide cover and balance

When should we double team?

When we outnumber the attacker with the ball

Coach note

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

3

Less challenging

4v3 to goal

20 min4 intervals · 4 min play · 1 min rest

Objective

Deny Scoring chances.

Player actions

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

Organization

In our half set up two 22Wx26L fields with two goals. Play 4v3. The Blue team: 1 GK and 3 players against the Red Team: 1 GK and 2 players. Both teams score in the opponent's 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 wordsBlock the shotHassleHelp.

Guided questions

What do we need to do to block the shot?

Get a defender in front of the ball to protect the goal

How can we hassle the opponent with the ball?

Pressure the attacker

Where should the other defenders help?

They should be providing cover behind the pressing defender

Coach note

Switch to this activity if the Core is too difficult for the players. Week 9 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: 6v6 to regular 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

Deny Scoring chances.

Player actions

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

Organization

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

Key wordsBlock the shotHassleHelp and Double.

Guided questions

Why do we want to block the shot? 2.When should we hassle the attacker with the ball?

To protect the goal

When should we hassle the attacker with the ball?

We put pressure as soon as he is about to receive the ball

How can the other defender help the pressing defender?

By providing cover and balance

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

Outnumber the attacker with the ball

Coach note

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

Download the PDF 431 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?