DEFENSIVE

ORGANISATION
AG E P H AS E : U 1 7 +
SESSION PLAN
SESSION OVERVIEW DEFENSIVE ORGANISATION

LEVEL KEY
• U17-First team Ball movement

Player movement
PRINCIPLES OF PLAY without the ball

• Applying pressure to the ball-carrier while forcing Player movement

play wide with the ball
• Covering in depth to deny split passes between
positions
• Building a short and compact team with minimal space
between the lines
Players

PART 1:
4+GK VS 4+GK +1 SMALL-SIDED GAME Cones

• This small-sided game begins to lay the foundations of

Flat marker
defensive line organisation. The game has four vertical
channels to help aid the learning process.
• The practice sees a group of 11 players split into two
teams of five players (including goalkeepers) plus one Cones with
neutral player. flat marker

PART 2: Goal
9+GK VS 9+GK +1 CONDITIONED GAME
• This conditioned game builds upon the previous Mini-goal
practice, with similar conditions and scoring rules.
• The practice sees a group of 21 players split into two
groups of 10 players (including goalkeepers) plus one
neutral player. Mannequin Pole

Football

AGE PHASE: U17+

4+GK VS 4+GK +1 SMALL-SIDED GAME DEFENSIVE ORGANISATION

FUNCTION
1 2
• This conditioned small-sided game focuses on the
organisation of the defensive line.
• In defence, both teams will set up in a 1-4-1 formation.
In the examples pictured here, that is Team B.
B B A B B B B A B B
• In possession – in this example, Team A – both teams
will position in a 1-2-2-1 formation. A neutral player (C)
plays for whichever team is in possession and prioritises B B
central positions.
• There is a normal offside rule in effect, utilising the C A A C A
halfway line as a reference. A
• There are two conditions: 1) If the defensive team
recovers possession of the ball in their defensive half, A A A A
they must connect 3 passes before attempting to score
a goal in the attacking half; 2) If the defensive team
recovers possession of the ball in their offensive half,
they can score immediately.
• There are two ways to score: 1) Every ball recovery
(tackle, interception, blocked shot etc) followed by
connecting 1 pass is worth one point – two points then
equals one goal; 2) Scoring a regular goal is worth
two goals.
• If a goal is scored in a regular goal, a new ball will begin
with the goalkeeper of the team who scored.
• If the ball goes out of bounds, a new ball will begin with
the opposition goalkeeper.

AGE PHASE: U17+

4+GK VS 4+GK +1 SMALL-SIDED GAME DEFENSIVE ORGANISATION

COACHING DETAIL: COVERING MOVEMENTS

OUT OF POSSESSION • When one of the centre-backs steps towards the
ball – for example, when challenging an aerial pass or
DEFENSIVE POSITIONING pressuring the forward – the ball-side full-back and
• Organise the 4-1 defensive shape using the four vertical second centre-back should drop to cover the back of
zones as references. the pressuring centre-back.
• If the ball is in the middle of the playing area, the • The far-side full-back will maintain their depth in line
defending team should occupy all four vertical zones. with the second centre-back.
• If the ball is in one of the wide zones, defenders should • When one of the full-backs applies pressure in the side
shift collectively to apply pressure to the ball-carrier lane, the other three defenders shift across and drop in
while leaving the far-side vertical zone free to limit depth to cover them, ensuring minimal space between
space between positions. positions.
• The second centre-back should organise the depth
of the defensive line, to keep a tight line and catch
opposition players in offside positions. COACHING DETAIL:
• The team must have the collective thought to push the DEFENSIVE TRANSITION
line higher when there is a backwards pass – even more
so on a slow or bouncing pass. • After losing possession in the attacking half, players
should quickly recover their 4-1 defensive shape.
INDIVIDUAL DEFENDING • The closest player to the ball applies pressure to the
• As the ball is travelling from one player to another, the ball-carrier in the defensive half, allowing time for the
defender must begin to initiate pressure. team to recover their defensive organisation.
• Accelerate to apply pressure quickly and then, as the
defender arrives within six yards of the ball-carrier, they
should begin to slow down, adjust feet, drop hips and COACHING DETAIL:
force play towards the sidelines. MANAGING THE OPPOSITION
• If the attacker takes a touch backwards, continue to
apply strong pressure. • Ensure full width and depth to make the playing area
• If the attacker takes a lateral or forward touch, initiate as big as possible.
1v1 defending, using the arms to make contact to better • Use patient build-ups when recovering possession in
control the opponent. the defensive half, and fast attacks when recovering
possession in the attacking half.

AGE PHASE: U17+

9+GK VS 9+GK +1 CONDITIONED GAME DEFENSIVE ORGANISATION

FUNCTION
• This 9+GK vs 9+GK +1 conditioned game builds upon
the foundations trained in the first practice in the
session, but with the addition of a midfield line and one
forward with similar game conditions.
• The defensive team – in this example, Team B – will set
up in a 1-4-4-1 formation.
• The attacking team – here, Team A – will position in a
1-4-1-1-3 formation. B B B
• The neutral player (C) will occupy central positions A
close to the other holding midfielder, forming a 1-4-2-1-3 B
formation for the team in possession. A
• There is a normal offside rule in effect, utilising the A
halfway line as a reference. A
B B
• There are two conditions: 1) If the defensive team
recovers possession of the ball in their defensive half,
they must connect 3 passes before moving into the B
attacking half and scoring a goal; 2) If the defensive
B
team recovers possession of the ball in their offensive C
A
half, they can look to score immediately.
• There are two ways to score: 1) Every ball recovery B
(tackle, interception, blocked shot etc) followed by A A
connecting 1 pass is worth a point – two points then
equals one goal; 2) Scoring a regular goal is worth
two goals.
• If a goal is scored in a regular goal, a new ball will begin A A
with the goalkeeper of the team that scored.
• If the ball goes out of bounds, a new ball begins with
the opposition goalkeeper; they then become the
attacking team and the formations shift accordingly.

AGE PHASE: U17+

9+GK VS 9+GK +1 CONDITIONED GAME DEFENSIVE ORGANISATION

COACHING DETAIL: COVERING MOVEMENTS IN DEFENSIVE LINE

OUT OF POSSESSION • When one of the centre-backs steps towards the ball,
the ball-side full-back and second centre-back drop to
DEFENSIVE POSITIONING cover behind the pressuring centre-back. The far-side
• Organise the 1-4-4-1 defensive shape using the four full-back should maintain depth in line with the second
vertical zones as references. centre-back. The midfield line must drop to apply
• If the ball is in the middle of the playing area, the pressure from the back, creating a defensive overload
defence should occupy all four vertical zones. around the ball.
• If the ball is in one of the wide zones, defenders should • When one of the full-backs applies pressure in the side
shift collectively to apply pressure to the ball-carrier, lane, the other three defenders should shift across and
leaving the far-side vertical zone free to limit space drop in depth to cover behind the pressuring full-back.
between positions and lines. The ball-side winger must protect the inside shoulder of
• The second centre-back should organise the depth the full-back, while the other three midfielders should
of the defensive line to keep a tight line and catch take up covering positions, protecting the space in front
opposition players in offside positions. of the defensive line and identifying marks.

MIDFIELD LINE AND FORWARD DEFENDING

• The midfield line and forward must apply strong COACHING DETAIL:
pressure with their defensive line, pushing with them to DEFENSIVE TRANSITION
maintain compactness.
• Slow passes, bouncing passes, backwards passes and • After losing possession in the attacking half, the team
the opposition receiving with back to goal should all act should quickly recover into the 1-4-4-1 defensive shape.
as triggers for them to step as a group. • The closest player to the ball applies pressure to the
• The forward should apply pressure diagonally to the ball-carrier in the defensive half, allowing the team time
centre-back receiving the ball, making play predictable to recover its defensive organisation.
and forcing play towards the sideline.
• When the opposition full-backs receive passes in wide
zones, the corresponding winger should apply pressure; COACHING DETAIL:
the central midfielders must occupy covering positions MANAGING THE OPPOSITION
in front of the defensive line, while the opposite winger
tucks inside to position diagonally in front of the second • Ensure full width and depth to make the playing area as
central midfielder. The forward should shift across to big as possible.
occupy an intermediate position between the ball-side • Use patient build-ups when recovering possession in
centre-back and central midfielder. the defensive half, and fast attacks when recovering
possession in the attacking half.

AGE PHASE: U17+