Ready for battle
in Defending, Small Sided Games
Drill your defenders to cover each other while one of them deals with an incoming long ball that threatens your goal. Soon they’ll be experts at last-ditch defending. MORE
Inside Out
The Rules
Position the keeper in the large goal, and other keepers in the mini goals if you have spare players.
You serve the ball to the team attacking the large goal. If they fail to score the keeper links with the defenders to counter attack the mini goals.
The team defending the large goal will try to defend to the outside away from the centre, and the team defending the mini goals will defend towards the centre.
Mix up the teams every 15 minutes.
Objectives
Teaches understanding about defending to the inside or the outside and why.
Key Skills
Speed and angle of approach of the first defender, angle and distance of support of the second defender, cover and communication by the third defender. Covers balance and
recovery runs of any others, so this is a more advanced version of Pin It Down.
Set Up
Area: 50×70 yards pitch (wider rather than longer)
Players: 12 plus keeper
Equipment: One central goal, two mini goals as wide as possible on the end line
The ball is played to the team attacking the large goal.
Encourage building from the back with defenders linking with the midfield.
When attacking, teams should be forced wide, away from goal.
What To Call Out
“Show inside, show outside”
“Support”
Development
- Add an extra attacker to outnumber the defenders.
- Serve the ball out to a wide attacker to create a 1v1 situation. The defender attempts to force the attacker to the endline without allowing them to cross. Counter attack using the fullback who plays through the midfield.
Hint
Prioritise the team that is protecting the main goal.
