SESSION PLAN
1V1 DEFENDING
To maximise playing time, use the same area for each practice and keep your changes simple.
1 ARRIVAL ACTIVITY
1v1 DEFENDING
Set up a rectangular area. Put a yellow and blue
player at each end and in the middle. The yellow and
blue player in the middle will be playing a 1v1 against
each other. To start, the end yellow player passes the
ball into the middle yellow player, who then tries to
beat their blue counterpart. If successful, they pass
the ball to the blue end player and the game continues
with the yellow middle player now defending.
3 4
TWO-TEAM KEEP BALL
This game can be played 2v2 or 3v3. Organise your
areas next to each other. Players must run the ball
over the other team’s line to score. Play three, five-
minute games, ensuring that you rotate the teams.
2
TEAMS
Split your players into two teams and put them all
inside the same area. Have half as many balls as
players – so if you have 12 players, use six balls. The
aim of the game is to win the ball off the opposition.
Play three, three-minute games. At the end of each
three-minutes, the team with the most balls wins.
4v4 MATCHES
Split the area into four and put a yellow and blue
player in each area. This is a normal match apart
from the fact that players must stay in their assigned
quadrant. This creates four 1v1 situations. You could
also split the pitch into two down the halfway line,
creating a 2v2 situation in each end.
SESSION OBJECTIVES
During this session, players will develop their understanding of:
• defending as an individual
• defending as a unit.

YOUR ACTIONS STEP

ORGANISATION SPACE
• Players: start in teams and bibs. Make the areas smaller so the
• Equipment: set up an area for players to collect and players get more physical returns.
return footballs, cones and bibs.
• Area: make a separate area for drinks. TASK
Change the overloads: have more
attackers than defenders.
OBSERVATION
• Is it safe?
EQUIPMENT
• Do the players understand how to play?
Change the number of balls or
• Are the players enjoying it?
goals within the activities.
• Does the practice allow the defender to regain the
ball?
PLAYERS
Match players up by size or
MANAGEMENT strength.
• Have players swapped over to allow them all to be
attackers and defenders?

COMMUNICATION
WHAT IS SUCCESS?
• Praise individuals for stopping the team from
playing forward or shooting. Success is when players:
• Praise individuals getting close to their opponent • put their body between the
and protecting the goal. player with the ball and the
• Ask players how they can work in pairs or small goal
teams to defend. • get close to a player and slow
them down
• regain possession
• enjoy themselves
• have lots of touches of the ball
and opportunities to learn.