15-18 Defending

3v3 tournament

Suitable for 13+ players

Benefits to football –

1. Travel with the ball
2. Looking for space

Session set up –

Two areas (30×20 yards each)
Top Pitch: One normal goal at one end, an end zone, and a target goal (or another end zone) at the other end.
Challenger Pitch: End zones and target goals (or just end zones) at both ends.
Split into two 3v3 groups, one on each pitch. Assign a keeper to defend the normal goal on the top pitch.
Score as many goals as possible against the keeper to stay or move to the top pitch. Teams on the Challenger Pitch move to the Top Pitch if they win. Teams on the Top Pitch stay if they win; if they lose, they move to the Challenger Pitch.
Top Pitch: Attacking team scores in the normal goal; defending team scores by moving the ball into the end zone and passing into the target goal.
Challenger Pitch: Score by getting the ball into the opposing end zone
and passing into the target goal.
Tie: Use ‘rock, paper, scissors’ to decide the winner.
To encourage more dribbling, add a rule that players cannot pass the ball when in their own half.
Play a series of 3-minute games, rotating teams between pitches based on their result

Defend for glory

Suitable for 10+ players

Benefits to football –

1. Scanning and movement
2. Intercepting techniques
3. Winning the ball high up

Session set up –

Create a pitch appropriate for your players' age and developmental stage, with goals at each end. Split the pitch into thirds using flat spot markers. Play in a 5v5 format, including goalkeepers.
Win the ball high up the pitch by pressing and intercepting.
Scoring System:
Win the ball in the defensive third and score = 1 point.
Win the ball in the middle third and score = 2 points.
Win the ball in the attacking third and score = 3 points.
Points are also awarded if players win the ball by tackling, with the same scoring system. Encourage players to scan, anticipate, and intercept passes.
You can progress the game by awarding double the points if the ball is won via an interception and the team scores or by flipping the scoring system—award 3 points for winning possession in the defensive third and 1 point in the attacking third to shift the focus to a low-block defensive strategy.

Diamond duel

Suitable for any number of players

Benefits to football –

1. Read cues and react to movement of the attacker
2. Use their movement to dictate opponents’ actions
3. Press as an individual and in pairs

Session set up –

Create a diamond-shaped pitch using four cones, with dimensions adaptable to the players’ age and skill level. Players are divided into pairs, with one pair as attackers and the other as defenders.
1v1 Without Footballs: The attacker tries to reach the cones, while the defender attempts to tag them or force them outside the diamond. Side cones are worth one point, and the back cone is worth three points. Players rotate after each round, and scores are tallied after five minutes or ten rounds.
1v1 With Footballs: The defender starts by passing the ball to the attacker. The attacker tries to dribble to the cones, scoring points similarly to the non- ball version. If the defender wins the ball, they can counterattack and score points by dribbling to the cones.
2v2 With Footballs: All four players participate, encouraging communication and combination play. The same rules apply as in the 1v1 with footballs format.
To progress the game further you can replace cones with mini-goals and add goalkeepers for more challenge or move to a 3v3 game on a square pitch for a more game-realistic scenario.

2v2 Attack vs Defense

Suitable for any number of players

Benefits to football –

1. Timing of press
2. Teamwork/communication
3. Understanding overloaded situations

Session set up –

Use 1 goal with a goalkeeper and a quarter of a full-size pitch. Have 2 defenders, with one standing either side of the goal. If you have more players, you can have 2 lines of defenders either side of the goal. Each defender should have a football. Have 2 attackers stand a few metres in front of the halfway line.
One of the defenders will pass the ball to the attackers, once the ball is passed the defenders can push up the pitch to the attackers. The players then have a 2v2, once the ball is scored or defenders win the ball the round ends. Encourage attackers to drive and build up speed with the ball before the defenders arrive. Encourage defenders to jockey and take attackers away from goal. If the defenders are winning too much, you can make it so the defenders can only press when the attackers take their first touch.