
Two Defensive lines
When and where does defensive play begin? When? As soon as the opponent has the ball Where? In any area of the pitch: ⢠In the opponentâs final third: try to stop the opponent from launching an attack ⢠In the midfield: try to slow down the opponentâs move ⢠In a teamâs own final third: protect the goal Using: â the selected formation â the basic position of the unit on the pitch â the playersâ individual characteristics â players who do more than their roles demand â respect for the teamâs balance Defending = a job for the whole team Regardless of the formation used, the type of play or the basic position of the team unit, the coach has to ensure that all of his players understand that one system is used and that each player knows: â what he has to do â where he has to do it â when he has to do it â how he has to do it Putting such a system in place revolves around two questions: â Where should the teamâs attempts to regain possession start? â How will these attempts be organised? The system will also take three key things into account, namely: â The ball carrier â Time â Space
This practice has no coaching points
This practice has no progressions
in more ways than one
Set pieces account for roughly a third of all goals in football, yet many coaches spend surprisingly little time coaching defensive organisation at corners and free kicks. This article compares zonal and man marking systems, explores hybrid approaches, and provides a practical session structure for building set piece resilience into your team.
A player's first touch determines everything that follows: whether they can play forward, turn, or simply retain the ball. This article explores why training first touch in isolation is not enough, and how to design sessions that develop this critical skill under realistic game pressure.
The coaching methodology revolution sweeping grassroots football - and how to implement it at your club this season.