PURPOSE OF SESSION:

Players practice the art of marking, preventing opponent turning, but also perfect when to screen a forward pass, and when to mark tightly.

INITIAL SET-UP:

• Players are in 2 groups of three on the outside and two groups of three on the inside. • Three of the players on the outside start with a ball. • Defenders mark 1v1 in the central area.

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Outsides start with the ball and look to feed it to the attacker. • The attacker attempts to get the ball to a free player on the other side of the square. • The defender aims to stop them scoring. • TRANSITION: When the defender regains possession, he passes to a player on the outside. • Change attackers / defenders / outside players periodically

PROGRESSIONS:

1. Attackers can ‘lend’ the ball to an outside player. Defender must track the movement of the attacker to stop him receiving the ball back, or stop him scoring. 2. Outside players can now pass to each other. Defenders must position themselves to screen / intercept this pass as it is a priority, rather than tight marking. Once the pass goes to the attacker, he can then press and complete the previous two challenges.

CHALLENGES / QUESTIONS FOR PLAYERS:

• Can you stop the attacker turning? • Can you decide when to mark him tightly or when to mark him loosely and “travel as the ball travels”? • Can you see the attack and the ball most of the time? • Can you track (either physically or mentally) the movements of the attacker? • Can you prioritise when to screen and intercept passes, and when to mark the attacker? • When critically defending, can you tackle, block, slide or disturb the ball or attacker?

SCORING:

Attackers score by getting the ball from one outside player to the opposite one. Defenders counter-attack by winning the ball and finding an outside to pass to.

CAUTION:

Change players roles intermittently, though your may prioritise certain positions for certain roles.

COACHING POINTS:

1.   Be an arm's length away from the attacker rather than be right on top of him.

2.   Take your hand off of the defender so that he can't 'feel' you.

3.   If the opportunity to steal a pass isn't there, be patient and contain the play.