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Phase of Play - Defending as a Unit

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DESCRIPTION

Procedure

  • Introduce the principles of defending as a back 4. Position the defenders in their standard position and place a different color marker in front of each of them (5 yard distance)
  • Upon calling out the color, the defender in front of that marker comes to press the marker
  • Move on to semi-active defending. Introduce 4 attackers, 2 central midfielders and 2 wingers
  • The coach passes the ball to any attackers. The defender next to the attacker arrives to press, not steal the ball
  • The attackers do not try to score, but they pass the ball amongst them and the defenders arrange their shape

Progression

  • Add a defensive midfielder in each team, to make it 5 v 5 and all the players are now active. When the ball goes out of play, the play starts from the attacking team

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