19/11/2021
LIGHTING AND DELIVERY PRACTICE IN CHILDREN'S FOOTBALL
Cover and delivery are central individual tactical aspects of defense. These topics can already be learned in children's football and give children the opportunity to take big steps in their development. We show you what to consider and do an interesting training practice.
The art of defense
There are basically two ways to protect your opponent. On the one hand, this is a classic "male cover" with the aim of constantly exerting pressure and with each pass to involve the recipient of the transfer in a duel. Anyone who knows how to anticipate and intercept passes early on with this form of defense becomes a "nightmare" for every striker.
On the other hand, issuing passports is an effective way to keep your opponent out of the game. A service is to cover the passage between the owner of the ball and his teammate. A service occurs when a defender is positioned between the ball and an unused opponent so that he cannot be played with and is in what is known as “shadow of cover”.
Opinions were divided on which option was “correct”. However, we can say for sure that both tactics are justified and can convey important aspects of the game to children at an early stage. There is no only "black" and "white"! Rather, it is necessary to focus on the situationally correct decision about the appropriate remedies, which children succeed the better the more often they are faced with problems in the relevant situations.
"Stick to your opponent!"
The benefits of consistent male coverage are almost obvious. In one-on-one duels, a smart and reliable duel is important. Anyone who is afraid of physical contact will always fail. Thanks to strict distribution, children learn early to take responsibility on the field and deal with dueling situations with pleasure and determination. Every player challenges and gets better with every action. Even in basic defensive fundamentals, such as defense between the opponent and the goal (on the "inside line") and using the body according to the rules of the ball, you will see progress quickly.
"Learn to read the game!"
Delivery requires very different skills from actors. First of all, you must have a very good game intelligence to use these individual tactics effectively. For example, it is important to develop a good sense of distance: the defender should not get too close to the owner of the ball, nor should he stand too far away, in order to increase the chances of success.
The shorter the distance to the owner of the ball, the more the covering shadow is created, but the attacker can just as quickly disappear from the field of view. To avoid the latter, it is very important to look over your shoulder. The defender must always keep an eye on the ball and the opponent in order to position himself correctly. Thus, the goal is to create a one-on-one duel from the point of view of the defender, while providing passes from a one-on-two situation. At the latest, as soon as the owner of the ball strikes for the pass, the defensive player must wake up and intercept the pass.
This page provides some sample lighting and delivery training forms for kids soccer: https://www.dfb.de/trainer/e-juniorin/artikel/das-decken-und-zustellen-im-kinderfussball-trainieren-3454/
