Prevention, not cure! - Stop the danger from developing!
Working on these defensive principles this session starts with a simple headering drill, before adding an accuracy element to the exercise - getting players to direct their John-Terry-like clearances to a team-mate higher up the field. Following on from this we get competitive, working with two teams players will have to compete for the ball in the air.
By cutting out the high ball service to the front men not only will you stem the flow of dangerous balls to their front players but you will also frustrate your opponent, forcing them to change their game plan. If the opposition do decide to play with the ball on the ground you can then work on defensive cover, if one player goes to meet the ball one of their team-mates should fill the gap and provide a second line of defence in case the first defender gets beaten by their man.
in more ways than one
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in more ways than one
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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.
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The coaching methodology revolution sweeping grassroots football - and how to implement it at your club this season.
