Solid defensive core
in Defending
Give your back line a good work-out and ensure they can block any move from wide. By MICHAEL BEALE MORE
Defending
The defensive soccer drills and games in this section will help you coach your players to work as a unit at the back. We look at how your players should organise themselves, what are their roles and responsibilities as defenders, and how they should react in different defensive situations.
With work, you should be able to coach your players to control the game at the back and to start great passing moves leading to goals at the other end.
Covering your back
in Defending
Deal with aerial balls pumped into the box and encourage your players to defend as a unit. By MICHAEL BEALE MORE
Execute the high press
in Defending
Developing players’ ability to work as a unit and apply pressure up the pitch. By GORDON NICOLSON MORE
Defending in our half – Warm Up
The session focuses on defensive principles and developing defensive techniques. By DAN FAIRHURST MORE
Defending in our half – Practice
in Defending
This session focuses on defensive principles and developing defensive techniques. By DAN FAIRHURST MORE
Defending in our half – Small-Sided Game
in Defending, Small Sided Games
This session focuses on defensive principles and developing defensive techniques. By DAN FAIRHURST MORE
Pressing to dictate – Practice
in Defending
Work on the pressing of the front three to force the play in a particular direction. By NATHAN MARSHALL MORE
Converting transitions
Develop speed of thought and play through this ever- changing transitional game. By SHERLEN LINDSAY MORE
Pressing from the front – Practice
in Defending
This session develops players’ awareness and ability to press confidently as a unit. By STEVE GREENWOOD MORE
Pressing from the front – Small-Sided Game
in Defending, Small Sided Games
This session develops players’ awareness and ability to press confidently as a unit. By STEVE GREENWOOD MORE
Pressing from the front – Warm Up
This session develops players’ awareness and ability to press confidently as a unit. By STEVE GREENWOOD MORE
Recover and regroup – Small-Sided Game
in Defending, Small Sided Games
This session develops players out-of-possession, working on delaying, denying and dictating. By GABRIEL HEIDLER MORE
Recover and regroup – Practice
in Defending
This session develops players out-of-possession, working on delaying, denying and dictating. By GABRIEL HEIDLER MORE
Defending against overloads
in Defending, Email newsletters
Defending against overloads can happen whether your team is in an organised or disorganised state. You can plan defending when organised much easier than when you are defending disorganised. MORE
Win the ball back in 6 seconds
in Defending, Email newsletters
A high pressing game gives teams a huge advantage when they win the ball back because you are close to your opponents goal. Lose the ball, win it back in 6 seconds is a rule that I use in training sessions. But how does that work? MORE
Covering defender
in Core Skills, Defending, Practice plans
When a defender is applying pressure to an attacker with the ball it's important that they have back up in the form of a second or covering defender. That's to ensure that if the attacker beats the first defender, any progress is stifled by the second one. MORE
Defending crosses into the box
Get your players to clear balls crossed into the penalty area and clear the ball into areas of the pitch that give defenders time to regroup and cover the danger MORE
Out of possession tactics
Out of possession teams can control the game by forcing play into areas of the pitch that are easier to control. With positional play opponents can be forced into areas that are less dangerous to the defending team MORE
Transitions: react to change in possession
in Attacking, Defending, Tactics
Transitions are a vital part of match play - players must react quickly to winning or losing the ball because in these instances games are won or lost. It is vital that as soon as the ball is won or lost teams react instantly. An attacking team that has lost the ball must work hard to immediately win it back and a team that has won the ball must attack at pace. MORE
The next… Fernandinho
in Core Skills, Defending, Practice plans
Manchester City's Fernandinho has shown how a defensive midfielder can intercept the ball to break up attacks and then begin a counter attack. This session will help your players emulate the Manchester United star. MORE
Anticipate long passes
in Defending, Small Sided Games
It is important to press defenders and not give them chance to play long passes that can catch an unwary defence out. Coaching players to force the player at the back to play short gives chances for team mates to push on and win possession. MORE
Transition in defence
in Defending
When a team wins or loses the ball, they have to react. Here the defenders must react quickly or they will lose a goal. It encourages teams to close the centre of the pitch, in order to force play away from the goal. MORE
Coach better defending
in Defending, Email newsletters
It is not easy coaching in a pandemic. But one thing I know my players like doing is to give them a task to do which involves watching a match on TV. Say it's Charlie who plays left wingback ... he's a Chelsea fan so his task is to watch Ben Chilwell and give good things or bad things that happen when he is defending. The players love it! MORE
Stop the star player
in Defending, Small Sided Games
Use this activity to help your team learn how to contain the opposition’s special threat. MORE
