U12 Defending Session Plan (75 Minutes, Free)

The full session plan

Six timed phases totalling 75 minutes. Run them in order — each phase feeds the next.

1. 1

   Arrival activity

   5 min

   Shadow the attacker

   Set up: Pairs, no ball. The attacker jogs and changes direction; the defender stays a yard away in a side-on stance.

   Coaching points

   • -Side-on, knees bent, weight on the balls of the feet
   • -Small steps, never crossed feet

   Progression: Attacker adds a ball at walking pace.

2. 2

   Warm up

   10 min

   Press and recover shuttles

   Set up: Cones five, ten and fifteen yards out. Players press to the first cone, drop back, press to the second, drop back — building intensity with a ball rolled in for the last rep.

   Coaching points

   • -Approach fast, arrive slow
   • -Curve the run to show them one way
   • -Set your feet a yard before contact

   Progression: Coach calls the cone number so the press is reactive.

3. 3

   Technical practice

   15 min

   1v1 jockeying channels

   Set up: Four 12 x 8 channels. Defender passes to the attacker and closes down, aiming to force them into the sideline and win the ball. Rotate roles.

   Coaching points

   • -Show them to the touchline, not the middle
   • -Stay on your feet — the tackle is the last option
   • -Win the ball when their touch is heavy or they look down

   Progression: Add a time limit: the defender must win it within eight seconds.

4. 4

   Skill practice

   18 min

   2v2 defending as a pair

   Set up: 20 x 20 area with a mini goal. Two defenders versus two attackers, defenders score by winning the ball and dribbling out through the end gate.

   Coaching points

   • -One presses, one covers — never both dive in
   • -Communicate: 'press', 'hold', 'I've got the ball'
   • -Cover player slides across to protect the inside pass

   Progression: Make it 3v3 so the third defender learns the balance position.

5. 5

   Small-sided game

   20 min

   7v7 press-to-score game

   Set up: Full 50 x 35 pitch. Any goal scored within ten seconds of winning the ball in the attacking half counts double.

   Coaching points

   • -Trigger the press on a backward or bouncing pass
   • -Press as a unit — front player sets the angle
   • -Drop and get compact when the press is beaten

   Progression: Remove the double-goal rule for the final five minutes.

6. 6

   Cool down & review

   7 min

   Stretch and defending review

   Set up: Light jog and static stretches with a two-minute group review.

   Coaching points

   • -Ask: what's our trigger to press?
   • -Ask: what do we do when the first press is beaten?

   Progression: Agree one defensive rule for Saturday's match.

Drills used in this theme

Swap any practice above for another on the same theme.

FAQs

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