How organised are your back 4 when they are under pressure? Are they communicating effectively to stay compact when facing an attacking overload. This functional defensive practice focuses on these key aspect of the game. The goalkeeper will play a long pass to the attacking team triggering the 6 v 4 attack. Defenders must stay tight, working together to force attackers wide and close spaces to stop penetrating passes through. After every two rounds, we switch the GK and defensive team with the attacking team switching after each unsuccessful attack. Let's defend the goal like we would on game day! 💪

This dynamic practice will help players improve their ability to transition from defence to attack and vice versa. We'll set up a 15 by 15-yard square where a 4 v 2 possession rondo takes place, creating a challenging and fast-paced environment for players to thrive. Once the defenders win the ball in the Rondo, they must connect with an outside teammate, triggering a 5 v 3 attack. Speed of transitions and high quality decision making are the order of the day! 🫡

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! 💪

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! 🔥

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! 🤝 

It's time to develop our defensive shape and cover positioning in this pattern of play practice. Here's how it works: You’ll call out either "left," "right," or "centre," signalling which defender should step up to receive the ball and head it or pass it back. The other two defenders must position themselves effectively to provide cover for the pressing player, with the opposite covering player always ahead of the central defender. Work together as a unit, communicate effectively and focus on positioning to get your defensive unit primed for the game! 🤝