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Defend as a Pair

U11–U12 · 60-minute practice

Explore and notice

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10:00

Rest and transitions are included in each activity. Pause for additional breaks.

Next: Linked cover

Close a route, keep your partner covered.

Begin at walking pace in the numbered stations. In pairs, point to the ball side and protected target; walk into a staggered shape with a clear gap. Share the ball when needed; an observer watches the same decision and takes a ball turn on the next assigned round.

s26-arrival28 × 34 m clear area with a 2 m perimeter buffer. 2 numbered stations, 8 numbered player slots, 2 balls and 8 cones. Each station shares one ball and rotates roles; dashed arrow shows an example travel or pass route. Focus: Protect space together and switch responsibilities. Diagram shows starting positions, not fixed player locations. Three steps show delay cover using the first round's numbered players. Solid gold routes show the ball; dashed pale routes show player movement; dotted blue routes show a shadow or defender. Routes stay inside each numbered station. 1. Protect the route: Nearest defender protects space; no contact. 2. Change the ball side: Second defender covers behind when available. 3. Hand over nearest and cover: The old nearest defender drops; the partner now delays.Station 1Station 21357246828 × 34 m · 2 m perimeter bufferNumbered circle: player · small dot: ball · triangle: cone · dashed arrow: route1. Protect the routecornercornercornercornergategategategateStation 1: #3: delay without contactStation 1: #5: cover behind the nearest defenderStation 2: #4: delay without contactStation 2: #6: cover behind the nearest defender13572468Ball 1Ball 2Nearest defender protectsspace; no contact.2. Change the ball sidecornercornercornercornergategategategateStation 1: To #7: change the ball side with a soft passStation 2: To #8: change the ball side with a soft pass13572468Ball 1Ball 2Second defender covers behindwhen available.3. Hand over nearest andcovercornercornercornercornergategategategateStation 1: #5: become the new nearest defenderStation 1: #3: hand over and become coverStation 2: #6: become the new nearest defenderStation 2: #4: hand over and become cover13572468Ball 1Ball 2The old nearest defender drops;the partner now delays.Solid gold: ball · dashed pale: player · dotted blue: shadow / defender

Player arrivals and departures

Use anonymous numbers from 1 to 99. Changes take effect before an activity begins; each activity needs 4–16 players.

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