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.

Stand and deliver

in Defending, Soccer tackling drills

This session replicates situations where midfielders can find themselves outnumbered and a timely tackle is needed to stop the move in its tracks. MORE

Let’s stick together

in Defending, Tactics

The defending team is coached how to get into formation in a match when they have lost the ball and how to quickly assemble a zonal defence. After using our first session, run this and allow players to make decisions on where to defend at the corner. MORE

Press or protect

in Defending, Rondos

Play this like a Rondo where if you split the defenders and hit the cone keeping possession of the ball. The pressing team must try to win the ball and prevent the possession team hitting the cone. MORE

One-on-one defending

in Defending, Practice plans

Defending in a 1v1 is tough – use this drill to improve your players’ ability to come out on top in such situations. MORE

Top tips for defenders

in Defending, Tips and advice

Top tips from former Torquay United defender Aaron Downes, now the assistant manager at Torquay, on how to be better at the back MORE

“Gang up” defending

in Defending, Practice plans

When a defender puts pressure on an attacker, it is vital that another defender stays close by in a supporting position. This session is designed to improve how your players “gang up” in defensive situations. In doing so, they will improve their understanding, positioning and teamwork. MORE

Do it yourself

in Defending, Tactics

This session helps you coach players to understand that they have to stay close and not let opponents get free or they will give the game away. MORE

Defending for all age groups

in Defending, Email newsletters

When I have been working with different age groups over the coronavirus-extended summer break I often use the same coaching activity. Sometimes it takes a simple tweak – size of pitch, number of touches, overloads – to make the session suitable for that age group. MORE

Defend together

in Defending, Practice plans

Improve your team’s ability to defend when under constant pressure from opposition attacks. Remember that when your rivals don’t have the ball, they can’t score a goal. MORE

The best defensive tactic

in Defending, Email newsletters

One of the most important topics in defensive play is compactness. A key principle of compactness is that the playing area of the opposition is minimised so there is less space for them to attack in. Give your players a lesson in compactness MORE

Preventing penetration

in Defending, Practice plans

This drill reinforces the basic principles of two-player defending. It is ideal for coaching your players to close down space, provide cover and force the play in one direction. MORE

Return to play: Back 4 blockers

in Defending, Return to play

Please check out the latest sport and social distancing guidelines in your area, and follow the recommendations when planning training sessions. Use this 4+4 v 4 box to give your back four a good work out in blocking passing lanes MORE

Under pressure

in Attacking, Defending

This is all about teamwork and teammates using the ball or stopping opponents from winning it. Press hard and the defenders will win the three balls in the fastest time – the clock starts ticking the second the first ball is kicked so players must move quickly. MORE

Closing Down Opponents

in Defending, Midfield, Tactics

Central defenders and supporting players have a vital role in stopping the opposition’s build up play. Players will work on the defending angle of approach to try and force the attacker away MORE

Create cool defenders

in Defending, Tactics

A fun game that will encourage your defenders to be calm on the ball and confident in their passing. Having a defender cool enough to keep calm under pressure is an asset. This activity will help stop your defenders from panicking. MORE

How to stop clever attackers

in Defending, Tactics

Use this session to help defenders to decide whether to hold up play or win the ball when outnumbered, often the attacker will have their head down looking at the ball – the defender can hold a goalside position so the attacker has to look up which is the best time to force a mistake MORE

Overload your defence

in Defending, Small Sided Games

This is an effective training session to teach your wingers to drop back into defence to help the team in order to double up on attackers and win the ball MORE

Responsibilities of a pivot player

in Defending, Other, Tactics

Pivot players are big news. Do you play with one or two? Against weaker teams one is enough but against stronger teams you're better off with two. But how do you know at grassroots level what your team needs? Check this out MORE

Win 2v1 battles

in Defending, Email newsletters

There are few defenders who can cope better under pressure than Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool, particularly when outnumbered in a 2v1 situation. MORE

Tip the balance

in Defending, Practice plans

This trio of overload attacking and defending possession drills is demanding for defenders but the rewards for winning possession is to give their team a player advantage. MORE

Work your centrebacks

in Defending, Small Sided Games

Central defenders working together with a keeper and a defensive midfielder is a good way control the dangerous areas in front of goal and repel attacks away from that area. MORE

Bounce

in Attacking, Defending, Small Sided Games

This training session is a good workout for forwards pressing and forcing mistakes high up the pitch. It also helps to develop link play in the final third. MORE

Defend an outswinging corner

in Defending, Set pieces

Here’s a set-up I have used for defending a right-footed outswinging corner, with each player being afforded a defined role. If defenders are successful in repelling the threat, they can look to break forward and score in either of the two goals positioned on the halfway line. MORE

Winning back possession

in Defending, Email newsletters

It may sound like I am being negative suggesting ways to stop teams passing but study any of the successful teams around the world and you will see the hard work that goes into stopping teams passing through or around midfields and defences. MORE