In this session UEFA A licensed coach, Dave Wright continues on his defensive work with the Melbourne Victory U20 group. The practice is designed to encourage players to collaborate and work together in units to block forward and split passes.

Dave demonstrates some gradual progressions to allow attackers and defenders to move into opposition zones and create more chaos. The purpose of this practice ties in with the next session (a phase of play) which encourages players to be patient out of possession and choose when to press, when to hold. At times realism is sacrificed in order to create some pictures which may emerge in the final part of the session where the players go into a 10 vs. 10 scenario.

This practice can be adapted in a number of ways and Dave will demonstrate progressions and how you can include goalkeepers and strikers if you have enough players to do so.

Popular searches: defending, finishing, 1v1, playing out from the back, working with parents