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Ready for battle
Drill defenders to cover each other while one of them deals with an incoming direct ball that threatens the goal
WHY USE IT
Playing out from the back is encouraged at all levels in modern soccer, but defenders must also know how to deal with direct balls thrown at them by opponents. This teaches them how to do that.
SET UP
Set up a pitch 40x30 yards with a goal at either end. The defending team lines up with a goalkeeper, back four and three midfielders against the attacking team’s ‘keeper, midfield three and two forwards. The attacking team includes two servers who they can pass to. You need balls, bibs, cones and goals.
HOW TO PLAY
To start, one of the servers on the attacking team plays a direct ball into the defending team’s back four. Play a normal game and, when a goal is scored or the ball goes out of play, restart with a direct ball.
COACHING POINTS
When defending direct balls, it is important that one player attacks the ball or brings it under control, while the other defenders drop in behind to cover them. This gets your defenders’ ready for when these situations occur in matches. Encourage defenders to bring the ball under control, so they can play out, rather than heading away - which is likely to give the ball back to the opposition.
- A server starts the game with a direct - not long or high - ball. Can the defenders win the ball and start to build an attack?
- As one defender prepares to deal with the ball, the others should be ready to cover in case of any problems
Related Files
- The attacking team can use the servers to pass to if they are under pressure
- Play always restarts with a direct ball from the servers
- Here, a defender is forced into a headed clearance as an attacker closes in - but the better option is to bring it down to play out
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