Emergency defending

Use this session to teach players the key points involved in being a solid defensive team – namely patience, and the ability to delay the opposition in order to allow for cover and support from team mates.

You only have to look at the number of goals scored from crosses to know why it’s important for to practise this session. It works primarily on players’ recovery runs when out of possession, and teaches the best runs to make out of possession in protecting the goal.

This session is all about establishing and improving defensive principles. It is essential that players know how to defend in all situations: in 1v1s, as a defensive unit, and as a team.

All basic defending principles can be developed and practised with this session, particularly holding up attacks, pushing up from the back, covering over and getting out quickly to meet the wingers.