Defensive skill stations

DESCRIPTION

Isolated practice of basic defensive skills for U10 or U12 juniors. In groups of 4-5. Either:

• All groups practice the same skill one after the other, or
• Each group practices a different skill, then rotates stations

Skills

1. Marking. One player tries to play a 1-2 pass (wall pass) with a second player who is standing between the green cones and marked by a defender (in red). Repeat, then practise at a shorter distance (receiver standing between red cones), then switch players.
2. Block tackle. Ball-carrier carries toward the defender, who block-tackles to win the ball, then carries to opposite side.
3. Jab tackle. Ball-carrier carries the ball to opposite side, while defender (in red) tries to jab the ball away.
4. Double-team tackling. 

Progressions/variations:

1. --
2. Block-tackle on reverse side only.
3. Jab-tackle from the left/right side of the attacker.
4. 1v1 tackling. Focus on mirroring the attacker's movement, using the stick to protect your feet and avoid being "nutmegged".

COACHING POINTS

Questions/feedback:

Marking: Where should you stand? How close away from the attacker? When the receiver is closer to the ball, should you mark them more closely?

Double-team tackling: 2 defenders should avoid standing square, so the attacker can't eliminate both of them at once. One defender should close down and disrupt, the other defender tries to steal the ball when it runs loose.