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Football: defending the longball

DRILLS (13)SESSIONS (1) ANSWERS (5)

defending the longball DRILLS

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Long ball relay Passing and Re...

Passing pattern: The ball starts with the player near the corner flag who passes up the line to the next player. the next player must them play a long ball (lofted or driven) the opposite corner player. That player must then control the ball and then pass to the center player who then dribbles back to the start point.

General

Football: Pass, Receive and Ru...

A three way pass and receive drill. The first player passes straight to the red player and then runs out wide ready to receive the red player's return pass which should go through the gate. Once they've received this pass through the gate the blue player plays a long ball (lofted or driven) to the player on the far cone who controls the ball and then dribbles through the slalom back to the start line.

General

3 v 1 long pass Passing and Re...

6 players work in an area approximately 30 meters wide, divided in two with a third boxed area at one end. Red team play a 3 v 1 inside the first area but need to look for early deep ball to blue (3) in smaller coned area. The Blue team has also got a player (2) in the centre zone this player can not enter the area where the reds are keeping possession.

General

Pass and Release relay Passing...

Player 1 passes to player 2, meanwhile player 3 reacts to this pass and moves so that they're ready to receive from player 2, with their body open to the wing. Meanwhile player 1 charges up the line, ready to receive the pass from player 3. When they receive the ball on the run they switch the ball to player 1 on the other side and the drill continues.

General

Loop Overlap And Shoot Passing...

The first player plays a one-two pass with player 2, who passes back in front of player 1's looping run.Player 1 then dribbles with the ball either to the half-way line or the by-line where they then:either pass to player 3 on the half-way line who then dribbles to the outside of the 16 yard box and shootor cross the ball into the box for the attacking player to attack.

General

Loop overlap and shoot Passing...

The first player plays a one-two pass with player 2, who passes back in front of player 1's looping run. Player 1 then dribbles with the ball either to the half-way line or the by-line where they then: either pass to player 3 on the half-way line who then dribbles to the outside of the 16 yard box and shoot or cross the ball into the box for the attacking player to attack.

General

Long Shots Outside of the Area...

Goalkeeper advances towards the server.Receives a pass into feet from the server.Goalkeeper then plays a first time ball back to the server.Goalkeeper to retreat back to the best position they can get into before the ball is struck for a shot at goal. Rotate goalkeepers and servers.

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Pass, up and over! Passing and...

Players work inside a 10 meter long grid with one ball divided into three. The players on the outside pass the ball into the middle player who passes the ball straight back. When the outside players receives the return ball they play it first time, passing a lofted pass over the top of the middle player to the opposite outside player who controls the ball and then repeats the drill from the other side.

General

3 v 3 v 3 Conditioned games - ...

Station 6 players in 2 teams of 3 in 1/3 of the area and 3 players in 1 team in the other 1/3. The ball starts in the area at the top of the diagram. The 3 players in possession must attempt to advance the ball into the middle area. The team advancing the ball into this area then carries the ball into the opposing 1/3. Now they must attempt to advance the ball to the end line at the bottom of the diagram beyond the 3 players in the bottom 1/3. Defensive players must attempt to prevent the team in possession from getting the ball to either the middle area or the end line. Play continues from end to end with the winner being the first team to get to 5 points/goals. Develop so that 3 defenders become 2 defenders plus a goalkeeper. Now you have 3 attackers trying to beat 2 defenders and score past the goalkeeper.

General

Pass in 3s - movement of end m...

Set up as shown with 2 cones (the disatance of which between can be modified depending on ability or challenge you want to set your players).1 player on each cone and 1 player in the middle, 1 ball between the 3.Play starts with 1 end player passing it into the middle player who tranfers the ball to the other side.Middle players follows their pass and goes to the outside while the outside player plays a long pass across before getting into the middle to receive and play the ball back out through the other side.The player in the middle and 1 player on the outside will always rotate roles, while the other player on the outside will remain in their position.

General

Pass Through the Gate Passing ...

In pairs, players pass the ball to each other through a gate, or through a hurdle.

General

Target Passing - Long Balls Pa...

How accurate are your players long passes? This fun drill lets you find out. Like on an archery board have different target zones - a central 'bull's eye' and then two outer targets. From one side of the pitch to the other players take it in turns to have 4 consecutive cross-field passes, all the time trying to get the ball to land inside the 'bull's eye'.

General

Box Passing Passing and Receiv...

Players must use their first touch to play the ball either to the left or the right of their square. As soon as they have done this they must then aim to pass the ball through the middle grid and into their partner's square. Their partner must then use their first touch to guide the ball slightly out of their own grid to play the return pass back.

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defending the longball SESSIONS

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Defending Drogba - Cut out the...

By cutting out the ball over the top your defenders can prevent the ball ever reaching the opposition's danger players!

defending the longball ANSWERS

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Long Ball Defending for U11s H...

I run a U11 team that is reasonably successful and plays with confidence and spends a lot of the time on the front foot. However we seem to get caught week after week by the simple long ball over the top and would welcome some tips/drills to help the lads improve this part (it's driving me mad!). Thanks in advance.

Ian Coach, England

defending the long ball | Spor...

defending the long ball

Archived User Coach

How can you coach defending th...

How can you coach defending the long ball? My team moved up to 11-a-side last season and struggled when attempting to play off-side with the high ball over the top. Has anyone got any session/drills to target this defending?

Archived User Coach

Defending the through ball | S...

How can we defend the through ball from a faster team?

Archived User Coach

Looking for mini-soccer 7-a-si...

Hi, My team plays in a mini soccer league which is 7v7. Whats the best formation to play in the environment. We have played 2-3-1 all season but i was looking at 3-1-2 this season using the left and right backs as wingers aswell. Any one got any thoughts? Cheers

Archived User Coach

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