• - Split into 2 zones horizontally and 2 zones vertically
• - 2 small gate goals set up on wing to force blue team to attack wide and also encourage switch of play and challenge defending block movement.
• - Maintaining an even distance and encourage to set compact when defending and expanded wide when attacking
• - Area before the yellow line will create an overload situation and encourage blues to controlled passing with a 7v2 situation
• - Front 2 stay compact
Objective
1. Coach how to shift the defending block and communicate to move as a unit.
2. Coach team how to compact the field
3. Coach defending deep and inviting pressure and maintaining shape
Progression
• - Replace small goals with bigger goals and goalkeeper or one bigger goal and have a SSG.
• - Restrict touches to 2 or 3 to encourage off ball movement, scanning and quick passing
in more ways than one
in more ways than one
Set pieces account for roughly a third of all goals in football, yet many coaches spend surprisingly little time coaching defensive organisation at corners and free kicks. This article compares zonal and man marking systems, explores hybrid approaches, and provides a practical session structure for building set piece resilience into your team.
A player's first touch determines everything that follows: whether they can play forward, turn, or simply retain the ball. This article explores why training first touch in isolation is not enough, and how to design sessions that develop this critical skill under realistic game pressure.
The coaching methodology revolution sweeping grassroots football - and how to implement it at your club this season.