The Block

A defence that moves as one animal — delay the carrier, funnel the danger, force the shot you want them to take.

Gaelic football
Adult
75 min
16–26 players
1 coach
Effort 3/5
Half pitch
defending
shape
communication
tracking

The PitchPlans coaching teamGAA Award 1 & 2 coaches

Kit: 10 footballs, 26 cones, bibs for half, one goal with a keeper

Warm-up12 min

Track and Talk

Setup: Pairs across the width of the pitch, 2m apart, no ball for the first rounds. Mobility mixed into the walk-backs.

How it works: Attacker jogs the width varying pace and line; defender tracks goal-side and ball-side, staying about an arm's reach off, narrating out loud the whole way — 'with you, showing you left, slowing'. Swap at the far side, mobility on the walk back. Round three, add a ball in the attacker's hands and let the defender mirror for a flick chance without ever diving in. The narration feels daft for two minutes and then becomes the session: a silent defender is a beaten defender.

What to say

“Goal-side and ball-side — both, always, no trades.”
“Talk in names and directions — 'Jimmy, runner on your left', never just 'man on'.”
“Short steps the moment they slow — that's when the cut comes.”

Easier

Walking pace tracking; narrate only the changes of direction.

Harder

Attacker gets one burst per width the defender must survive without contact.

Activity15 min

The Funnel

Setup: Half pitch with a goal. Eight defenders set in two banks — five across the 20m line, three screening the D. Coach (or a spare player) walks a ball across the top with two feeders either side. Remember the three-up rule on match day: you defend with what's left, so eight is a realistic block.

How it works: Walk it before you run it. The coach strolls the ball left, right and through the middle; both banks shift together, always keeping the ball funnelled away from the scoring zone and towards the sideline. No tackles yet — this block is about spacing and the shuffle. Then jog-pace with the feeders moving it quicker, and add the rule: nobody leaves the shape to press until the nominated caller shouts NOW, and then only the nearest man goes. Finish with five minutes where the attackers genuinely probe and the banks must survive without fouling.

What to say

“Move on the flight of the pass, not on the catch — you shift while the ball travels.”
“Protect the D first; the sideline is your friend, the middle is theirs.”
“One caller, one trigger — when he says press, ONE goes and seven hold.”

Easier

Six attackers only and walking pace throughout; name every position's job aloud as they shift.

Harder

Attack with ten and let them switch play with long kicks — the banks must slide the full width in time.

Activity15 min

Delay, Deny, Force

Setup: Wide channel 30×20m along one sideline, a shaded trap corner (5×5m of cones) at the defensive end nearest the line. 4v4 plus two neutral attackers, so the defence is always outnumbered — like real life.

How it works: Attackers enter from the top and try to carry or pass out the far end; defenders work the sequence you walked in the funnel. First defender DELAYS — slows the carrier without diving in. Cover defenders DENY the inside pass, showing everything down the line. The prize is the trap corner: force the carrier in there and the second defender arrives for a legal double-up — flat hands, strip the ball, no wrestling. Score a point for every trap sprung, minus one for every foul. Rotate defenders every three minutes because outnumbered defending is exhausting done right.

What to say

“First man buys two seconds — that's the whole job, no hero tackles.”
“Show them the line, never the middle — the sideline is our fifth defender.”
“Double in the trap only — two men beaten anywhere else is a goal against.”

Easier

4v4 straight up, no neutrals; the trap counts even without winning the ball if the attack goes dead.

Harder

Attackers may switch the ball back out and re-enter — defenders must reset the shape every time without a coach's whistle.

The rest of this session is free — along with 3 more this week.

PitchPlans coaching team

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