Football-adapted gameDefending
Reading the Pass to Intercept
Four passers on the sides of a 20 m channel play passes across a middle zone where two defenders try to intercept. Defenders learn to read the passer's body and step in at the right time.
- Age
- U11–U19
- Players
- 6–12
- Duration
- 12 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Area
- 20 × 15 m
- Type
- Technical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Football-adapted game
- Objectives
- Technical: 1v1 defending
- Tactical: Defensive organisation
- Concepts worked on
- Technical:InterceptionPassing
- Tactical:Scanning
- Physical:Reaction speed
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Ball
- Cone
An interception is the cleanest way to win the ball: it often starts a counter with the defender facing forward. Defenders must watch the passer's hips and standing foot, stay balanced, and step across only when the pass is committed. Passers learn to disguise.
Objective
Anticipate the direction of a pass and step in to intercept it.
Organisation
- Channel of 20 × 15 m. Two passers on each end line, two defenders in a 6 m central zone. Spare balls with the passers.
How it works
- Passers pass across the zone to either player at the other end, on the ground, within two touches.
- Defenders score a point for each interception they control inside the zone.
- 60 seconds per pair of defenders, then rotate.
Coaching points
- Watch the passer's standing foot and hips: they point where the ball goes.
- Stay on your toes, half-turned, between two passing lines.
- Step in front of the line, not behind it, and control the ball forward.
Progressions
- Passers can also play diagonally or use one-twos at their end.
Regressions
- One defender only, passers three touches.
Variations
- After an interception, the defender dribbles out of the far side to score double.
Key principles
- Read, anticipate, step in.
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