📋 Session Plan · Defending
5v5 Defending Session
A 45-minute defending session for U10–U11 squads. 1v1 defending, pressing triggers, and recovery runs.
⏱Session timeline
8m
15m
18m
4m
▦Session blocks
1
Shadow defending pairs
8 minShadow defending in pairs: defender mirrors attacker's movement 2m behind. No ball. 5v5 warm-up with pressing trigger — any back pass triggers a sprint press.
2
1v1 channel defending
15 minFour simultaneous 1v1 channels. No tackling first 3 reps — pure body shape. Tackling from rep 4. Coach calls: angle, wait, patience.
3
5v5 with pressing triggers
18 min5v5. Back pass = press trigger. Coach counts successful presses.
4
Cool-down
4 minPlayers name one moment they successfully jockeyed without diving in.
◆What you'll need from yourself
Patience during the channel defending — resist the urge to shout 'tackle!' every time. Let the body shape drill do its work.
!Common problems
Players pressing in pairs when one should hold — only the nearest player presses.
?Frequently asked questions
What age group is 5v5 Defending Session suitable for?
This session is designed for U10–U12. Adjust pitch size, ball size and numbers to suit your squad if they sit outside this range.
How many players do I need for 5v5 Defending Session?
This session works well with around 10 players. With fewer, reduce group sizes or rotate players through the blocks; with more, run extra stations so everyone stays active.
How long does 5v5 Defending Session take?
Allow around 45 min in total for this session, including the warm-up and main blocks.
What does 5v5 Defending Session focus on?
A 45-minute defending session for U10–U11 squads. 1v1 defending, pressing triggers, and recovery runs.