This practice focuses on developing defensive compactness and players ability to apply pressure when setup in a back 3. The objective is for the 3 defenders to win the ball from the 2 attackers and combine to play out into either of the two mini goals. Defenders must remain compact and squeeze at the right time, communicate effectively to remain tight and shift across quickly when attackers are in possession, closing space and forcing mistakes. Let's get our Back 3 prepared for game day! 🔥

Let's sharpen our players' defensive shape, pressing and awareness in this practice. The objective is for the attacking players to draw out the defenders and play penetrating passes through the different colour gates (yellow worth 1 goal and red worth 2 goals). The two defenders work together to pressure and cover, aiming to regain possession. If they succeed, they must make a quick pass to any of the 4 outside players. The defensive pair must maintain effective shape and distance, decide when to press and when to shift across and communicate effectively to win possession! 💪⚽️  

It's time to develop our midfielder-winger-striker combinations to deliver and finish crosses at the back post. Wingers will drive towards the pole, simulating how they would attack a fullback in a game. They will cut inside and deliver a cross-shot towards the back post where the striker has made their run to finish off the attack. Aiming your deliveries inside the back post is key in this one, as strikers movement could be enough to put the keeper off and allow the cross to creep inside the post. We have added a progression to get our midfielders more involved, delivering the cross from a different angle.💪

Quick turnovers may require players to make important recovery runs to stop opposition attacks or block attempts on goal. This defensive practice focuses on this aspect of the game. Defenders will sprint towards the mannequin and header the ball back to the coach before sprinting to make blocks from shots at the two mini goals. Sprint speed, quick reactions and maintaining a high intensity throughout are key coaching points in this one! 💪

It's time to develop wingers ability to combine with strikers, come inside and finish in this technical practice. The winger will play a 1-2 pass with the striker to receive the ball on the run, fake a shot and dribble between the poles to create space to finish. We work both sides in this practice, getting players comfortable on both wings and alternating between both feet to finish. We can introduce a pass through for the winger to finish on two touch, creating a different type of challenge for our players! 💪

Hi everyone, we have recently been testing coach questions and possible solutions in videos to help coaches with delivery. https://app.touchtight.com/programs/defending-the-cross-58-p12

We are after as much feedback as possible on this style of video, so please have a watch and let us know what you would change if anything. We want our material to be as well suited for our users and coaches as possible, so your feedback is invaluable! 👌

It's time to develop defenders ability to defend deliveries from wide in unopposed and opposed scenarios! Our working defender must touch the mannequin before sprinting back into position to defend the delivery from the wide player. We have two progressions that will increase the challenge for our defenders and test their positional and game awareness, strength and ability to clear the ball from danger! 🔥

When I try to open the .png file in the resource list for an activity using the App on iOS, I get an error and it won't open.  I can access it fine via a web browser.  Here is a video of the issue:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16GVVp--80XPPGLMne4-MOSynPd8xlFqG/view?usp=drive_link

This winger specific practice will develop their ability to create space to receive and beating defenders to drive inside. One defender and winger will start up against each other. The winger must push off to create space to receive the pass, turn and beat the defender between the cones and finally finish in the mini goal. Strength to push off defenders and confidence to use individual skill to unbalance defenders are key coaching points in this practice! 🤝