Annual training plan · U9–U13

Week 36: Pushing Up & Covering the Far Side

2 complete training sessions with 8 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

This training week, your players get to know ball-orientated defending “again”. At U8/U9 there is one clear reference point that all players follow without compromise: the ball. Step by step, players in small-sided football are then taught that every player has an opponent. There is nothing wrong with that, because it helps players develop enormously in the attacking and defending 1 vs 1.

But from U12/U13 onwards, and with the move to the full-size pitch coming up, players have to internalise ball-orientated defending more again. This time, though, with a bit more structure. Players are taught the following principles to carry out ball-orientated defending successfully:

  • Create an overload near the ball: The player on the ball is attacked, and doubled up on if possible. The nearest passing options of the opponent on the ball are blocked.
  • Ball side attacks, far side covers: The players on the far side can leave their opponents and tuck into the centre. The players tucking in also drop off a little so that they can still get to the ball if the players near the ball are beaten. By the far-side players tucking in, an overload can be created not only near the ball but also in the centre.
  • Stay compact: All players orient themselves towards the ball. This means no big gaps or spaces open up that the opponent can play into.
  • Secure the depth sufficiently: There should be at least 1 defender for every opposition striker. There should never be a numerical disadvantage in the last line.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

Ball-orientated defending can be trained very well in small-sided games in which the defending team is slightly outnumbered. This can be done quite simply with floaters who play with the team in possession. Alternatively, you can also run small-sided games in which one team is permanently outnumbered. For example, in a 5 vs 4. Have the goalkeeper of the team with more players restart play after the ball goes out and after goals.

The key thing when defending while outnumbered is that the players cannot simply concentrate on one opponent. The defenders have to put the player on the ball under pressure again and again. To do this, an opponent away from the ball has to be left free and the ball-side players have to be marked. When the ball is passed, the players are forced to reorientate themselves and find a new position. This also calls for communication between the players, as the defenders have to keep handing over opponents.

If the outnumbered team succeeds in cutting off the ball-side passing options, the player on the ball can be isolated in a 1 vs 1.

Coaching points for this session
  • Communication: pass on opponents
  • Leave opponents on the far side free
  • Block passing options near the ball
  • Isolate the player on the ball in a 1 vs 1
  • Shift towards the ball as a compact unit
Drill 1

6 plus 1 vs 3

20 min15 x 15 metres
  • The aim of the drill is to pass to the team-mate in the middle as often as possible.
  • The defenders' task is to win the ball and clear it out of play.
  • After five losses of possession the players change positions.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark out the playing area.

Equipment: 4 cones and several balls.

Players: Of the team in possession, six players stand on the edge of the area and one player in the middle; three players defend.

Coaching points
  • Shift across towards the ball as a compact unit.
  • Wait for the right moment to put pressure on the ball — for example after a poor first touch or when the opponent is in the corner.
  • To steer play, one player puts the central player in the cover shadow, one player steers in one direction and one player closes off the side that play is being steered into.
Drill 2

Ball-Oriented Defending

Double penalty area
  • The game starts 2 vs 2.
  • Every time a pair concedes a goal, a new pair from the same team comes into the playing area with a ball.
  • If a round takes too long, both pairs leave the playing area.
  • After balls go out of play, the goalkeeper brings a new ball into play.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Teams of two players each; plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • The player nearest the ball steps out, the player furthest from the ball covers centrally with a slight stagger in depth.
  • If the ball is played square, the two defenders swap positions.
Drill 3

Pass and Shot Double Action

20 min
  • The first player of Team A dribbles forward briefly and passes to the first player of Team B, who shows for the ball on the other side.
  • Player B receives the pass in the turn, carries it and shoots at goal 2.
  • Immediately after that pass, Player A is played the ball by Team C.
  • Player A takes this pass in a short turn and shoots at goal 1.
  • After the action all players join the back of their own group again.
  • The teams swap tasks every five minutes.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; there are two goals at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Three teams A, B and C; teams A and C have a ball. Plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Pass firmly.
  • Get to the finish quickly.
  • Take the ball straight into the movement.
  • Finish with both feet.
Drill 4

4 plus 1 vs 4 in Rotation

25 minDouble penalty area
  • The games are played in a tournament format.
  • The two neutral players take turns between the games so that there is always a 4 plus 1 vs 4.
  • The neutral players always play with the team in possession.
  • When the ball goes out of play, the goalkeepers restart the game.
  • Each game lasts three minutes, with a 90-second rest in between; the players who are resting recover actively.

Variations: For more endurance load, the winner stays in the playing area each time.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals and several balls.

Players: Teams of four players each plus two neutral players; plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Carry out the drill at the highest intensity.
The complete session as a ready-made training plan – with animated drills in the web app. Go to the web app

Session 2

4 drills

The principle “ball-side steps out, far side covers” is easiest to teach in a 2 vs 2. If the players develop a good understanding of this principle in a 2 vs 2, they can usually transfer it to a 3 vs 3, 4 vs 4 or larger small-sided games without any problem.

In the 2 vs 2, the opponent on the ball is engaged by the ball-side defender. The far-side defender now has to cover their team-mate. To do this, they take up a staggered position in depth behind their team-mate and tuck in slightly towards the centre. But only far enough that the defender can still get to the 2nd attacker if that attacker receives a square pass.

Besides its covering function, the staggered position in depth also serves to close the channel between the two defenders. The effect of this is that the attackers can only play square passes. This slows the attack down and, if the 2 vs 2 is viewed in a match context, a numerical advantage can be re-established near the ball.

If the attacker on the ball plays a square pass, the two defenders have to swap roles quickly. The defender who was previously in a staggered position in depth engages the attacker who has received the pass. The other defender tucks in slightly towards the centre and moves into a staggered position in depth. This should be done particularly quickly in order to close the gap between the two defenders again immediately.

Coaching points for this session
  • Ball side steps out, far side covers
  • Far-side defender: tucks in slightly towards the centre and covers the team-mate in a staggered position in depth
  • Ball-side defender: engages the opponent on the ball
  • Square pass: swap roles immediately
Drill 1

Shifting Across to the Ball

20 min12 x 20 metres
  • The players in the outer zones work together and try to keep the ball moving between the two outer zones.
  • Before the ball is played out of a zone, every player in that zone must have touched the ball at least once.
  • The players in the middle zone shift across accordingly.
  • If they intercept a pass, they swap zones with the players who played the misplaced pass.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the area, which is divided into three zones, each four metres deep.

Equipment: Cones and several balls.

Players: Three players stand in each zone.

Coaching points
  • The player nearest the ball steps out, the player furthest from the ball covers behind.
  • Shift across towards the ball as a compact unit.
  • If the ball is in the centre, the central defender pushes forward and the two team-mates form a defensive triangle.
  • If the ball is in a wide position, the defender nearest the ball pushes forward; the two team-mates shift across to the ball and cover with staggered depth.
  • After a pass, get back into a covering position or step out again quickly.
Drill 2

Warm-Up in a Movement Course

20 min
  • The players carry out various coordination tasks at the stations.
  • Between the stations they jog gently.
  • The intensity can be increased over the course of the drill.

Variations: Set different tasks at the individual obstacles on a regular basis.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: A course with five stations: a backwards slalom through a row of cones, a slalom through poles, a jumping section made up of hurdles, a side-step section over poles lying on the ground and a quick-feet section through rings. The set-up follows the graphic, and the starting position is marked.

Equipment: Cones and tall cones in various colours, 10 poles, hurdles and rings.

Players: The players go through the course one after the other with enough distance between them.

Coaching points
  • Make sure there is enough distance to the player in front.
Drill 3

Transition Play 2 vs 2

20 min
  • Play is continuously 2 vs 2.
  • After a goal the successful team leaves the playing area immediately, and the next two players of that team come into the playing area.
  • The goalkeeper of the team that has conceded the goal plays a new ball to the team-mates as quickly as possible, who if possible finish on the opposing goal immediately.
  • After balls go out of play, the goalkeepers bring a new ball into play.
  • If no goal is scored within two minutes, two new players per team come into the playing area.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark out the playing area; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, 4 cones and several balls.

Players: Teams of two players each; plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Go into the 1 vs 1 with courage.
  • Get past the opponent with a change of pace and a feint.
  • Get to the finish purposefully.
  • Pick up speed immediately.
Drill 4

4 vs 4 on 6 Mini Goals

30 min
  • Two teams play 4 vs 4 on the six mini goals.
  • The other two groups run around the playing area and perform coordination or fitness exercises while doing so.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; six mini goals stand all around it.

Equipment: 6 mini goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Four teams of four players each.

Coaching points
  • The defenders work in quick pressing.
  • The attackers make the game wide.
  • The attackers escape the pressing with combinations and look to score.
Your training. Your web app.

Get the complete training plans in the web app

  • All 52 weeks, up to three sessions per week
  • More than 3,000 drills – many of them animated
  • Build your own training plans & share them with your team
Start for free

No subscription, no credit card. Sign up in 1 minute.