By Chris Kouns
USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Women’s Soccer Coach – Georgia Gwinnett College
This session is focused on small groups of players working together to defend the space behind them.
Set-Up
In an area approximately 30 x 30 there will be two teams of four players. There will also be a target dummy on each end line.
Execution
The team in possession will only have three players on the field while the defending team will have four players on the field. When the defending team wins the ball one of their players will drop behind their dummy and the opposing team player who was behind the dummy will step on the field to make their group of four defenders.
If the attacking team can hit the dummy with a pass then they give the defending team one point. The object of the game is to have as few points as possible at the end of three minutes.
Coaching Points
The first defending player should engage the player on the ball and try to get their head down so they cannot see their options.
The second and third defenders should work to get in position where they can dissuade the pass from being made to a player or be close enough to intercept the ball/player.
The fourth defender should look to enter the field and get into a position that will free up another defender or will allow them to double team the ball. However, their first priority is to eliminate the dummy from play then they can work up the field.
Setup
In an area between midfield and the big goal there will be three sections separated by dummy's. In each section there will be three defenders who begin by their dummy's. They are to work together to stop the attacking team from getting to the next zone.
Execution
Attacking players begin with four players in the first zone and then as they move in the next zone they are allowed to bring three players. They are trying to score on the big goal.
The three defenders in each section must stay in their zones but do have the advantage of the dummies behind them. If a ball hits a dummy then the ball is dead.
When the defenders win the ball they should play it back up to the one attacker who could not join from the first zone.
Coaching Points
In the first grid the defenders are numbers down. So, the first defender should try to make the field small by pushing the attackers into a smaller area. Their assisting defenders should look to win the ball in the smaller area and deny easy access to the other attackers.
In the second grid the defenders and attackers are even at 3 v 3 so the defenders can be more aggressive. Same defensive principles apply in terms of making the player on the ball make a choice and other defenders moving into positions that are "touch tight" with an attacker or deny vertical balls to the third grid.
Setup
There will be two big goals 45 yards apart with a GK in each one. There will be two teams that a 5 v 5 in the area between the goals. At the midpoint on each sideline there will be a cone where one defender will start from as a recovering defender once the ball passes their position.
Execution
The attacking team will always begin with a ball at their GK (If the defenders win the ball they play back to their GK before attacking so the other team can get their "recovering" defender in place. The winning team will be the team that allows the least number of goals in a three minute game.
Coaching Points
The initial defending players should work to bring the ball towards their "recovering" defender as that help should come sooner rather than later.
The pressure defender should make play as predictable as possible.
The covering and balance defenders should 1) Deny Penetration 2) Force the ball Backwards 3) Win the ball with an interception 4) Win the ball with a tackle.
By Chris Kouns: USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Coach Georgia Gwinnet College Women’s Soccer (GA)
