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defending DRILLS
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Bull Dog

Five players start on one end line, each with a ball. One defender is stationed in the middle without a ball. All players must try to dribble past the defender to the safety of the other side on the coach's call. If the defending player manages to kick the other players ball out of the area, then that player also becomes a defender. Continue until one attacker remains.

Dribbling

Change Soccer

Position 3 players who link arms or hold hands on the goal line. Play 3 v 3 until coach shouts, "Change!" then the chain breaks and the team previously out on the field becomes the chain in goal. The original chain players now become field players. 3 players from each team form a human chain by linking arms or holding hands. These players are stationed on the goal line in front of a goal approximately 8 yards wide. The team in possession must attempt to score past the human chain defending the opposing goal. Goals and saves are each worth 1 point(players in the chain are not allowed to use their hands to defend the goal and must control the ball within 5 yards to score).

Conditioned games

Defending 1 On 1 With A Goalkeeper

Goalkeeper passes to player 2, who must attempt to dribble the ball past player 1 and score a goal. Player 1 assumes a sideways position and blocks the path to the goal. If the defender wins the ball, he should try to dribble over the end line. Rotate positions. Allow the player to shoot as soon as he receives the ball. The player must close down the space to the ball and get into line between the attacker and the goal as quickly as possible.

Defending

Defending 2 On 1

Player 1 has a ball; the other three balls are placed on discs on the end line. Player 1 passes the ball to player 3, who must advance the ball to the opposite end line without being dispossessed of it by 1 or 2. Player 1 moves in to assume the correct defending position, forcing 3 in the direction of 2 by blocking the right side of the attacker. Players 1 and 2 combine to win the ball. If the defenders win the ball, have them attempt to knock a ball off a cone. Both defenders start on the same side of the area.

Defending

Defending the Midfield

Play 2 v 2 in the area furthest from goal and 2 v 3 in the defensive area around the goal. Make 2 small goals on the end line for the defense to play out through. The attacking team (gold) in the area furthest from the goal, combine to play the ball into the two attackers in the opposite area. The two defenders in the area furthest from the goal attempt to intercept passes as they are played through. The three defenders in the defensive area mu st pressure the ball, marking tightly when close to the ball or goal. Defenders from the area furthest from the goal may enter into the defensive area to support the three defenders and to serve as midfield players for clearances from the back. If defenders intercept the ball, they should attempt to play the ball through either of the small goals at the bottom of the diagram.

Defending

Defensive Pressure

Play 3 v 3 in the middle area with goalkeepers stationed in each of the goals. Balls are placed around the field so that as soon as a ball goes out, the closest ball is played in. As soon as a player receives the ball from the goalkeeper or an outfield teammate, he should attempt a shot on goal. The defending team must attempt to pressure the ball carrier and closely mark all other attacking players.

Defending

Number Shooting - 1v1

Number 2 groups of players from 1-5 and get them to stand on either side of the goal. Call a number. The two players (one from each side) whose number was called race around the cones to enter the area. When a player has entered through the gate the coach feeds the ball to the side where the first player has entered. Player runs onto the ball and tries to score before the other player can make a challenge/block.

Shooting

Through Ball in the Triangle

Set up a rectangle, 15x10m, with a player on each corner plus two defending players inside the grid with bibs on. The outside players must try to stretch the two defenders in order to make space for the diagonal pass. In order to do this they can pass laterally and use dummy passes to send the defenders. Players keep count of how many diagonal passes they have completed.

Possession

Use the width to get up the pitch

Red 1 passes the ball to one of the teams to start the game. There should be 3 players in both wings and 8 players in the centre of the pitch. The wing players cannot be tackled and the central players are not allowed into the wing areas. In order to score a goal the team in possession must make 5 consecutive passes before passing out to their wide man. The wide players must both touch the ball before it is crossed in for the team in possession to attack it, with the other team defending the cross. After an attack on goal has been made the ball returns to red 1 who feeds the ball out to the other team.

Conditioned games

World Cup Headers

Groups of 4 players are paired and stationed on the sides of the area as shown in the diagram. Each team takes on the identity of a World Cup Team. The object of the game is to head the ball past the opposing team and over the opposing goal line. The player in possession serves the ball to his teammate to head towards the opposing goal line. The defending team must attempt to stop the ball from crossing their end line without using their hands. Once the ball has been stopped, the receiving player picks the ball up and serves the ball to his partner to repeat in the opposite direction. If a team heads a ball straight back and scores, the team gets 2 points.

Heading

Shadow defending 1 v 1 skills ...

Players are working in pairs. Player 1 dribbles forward and player 2 shadows them, not trying to win the ball but trying to put pressure on the player in possession.

General

Wolf Pack Defending - Soccer D...

The players each have a ball. On the coaches command the defending team comes in to the area and tries to kick all of the balls out. If a player gets his ball kicked out then they can stay in and help their team mates by finding space to receive a pass. If a player does a turn when pressurised by a defender then add 5 seconds onto the time.

General

Overloading to push up Conditi...

The pitch is split into 3 thirds with 2 defenders in the defending third, 2 midfielders in the middle third and 1 attacker in the attacking third. The ball starts with one of the goalkeepers who plays the ball into one of the defenders. The defenders play a 2v1 against the oppositions attacking player (3v1 if you include the goalkeeper) with the objective of trying to get the ball into one of the midfield players. Once this occurs, the defender who has not passed the ball into the midfield area can go and join the middle third to create a 3v2 situation. The midfield players then try to play the ball into the attacker placed inside the attacking third. ONe of the non-passing midfielders can then enter the attacking third to create a 2v2. Then the attackers try to score against the opposition. Once the ball goes dead, into the goal or is regained by the opposition, the same scenario occurs with the other team in possession and the defending team must retreat to their defensive zones.

General

Defensive Pressure Defending -...

Play 3 v 3 in the middle area with goalkeepers stationed in each of the goals. Balls are placed around the field so that as soon as a ball goes out, the closest ball is played in. As soon as a player receives the ball from the goalkeeper or an outfield teammate, he should attempt a shot on goal. The defending team must attempt to pressure the ball carrier and closely mark all other attacking players.

General

Overloading Conditioned games ...

The pitch set up has a defending zone and an attacking zone, divided by a midfield channel. The defending zone and attacking zone have 2 defenders and 2 attackers in each zone. The midfield channel has 2 neutral (no.10) players inside. The defenders receive the ball from the goalkeeper and play through to one of the neutral midfield players (with the attacking players trying to stop this). The neutral players then play into the attacking players and join the attacking zone to create a 3v2 overload. Try to score in the opposition goal. Progression 1: Neutral players are split iinto one player for each team (i.e. one becomes blue, one red). These players are unnoposed to begin with in the central channel (but this makes only one midfield player to play into from the defensive zone).Progression 2: Central zone players become opposed (i.e. the opposition midfield player can intercetpt etc). The ball can be set back from the midfield players into the defensive players to play through into the attacking zone. Progression 3: The midfield players can drop into the defensive zone to make a 3v2 overload.

General

Move Defender Laterally and Dr...

Move the defender laterally to create space in which to dribble the ball and exploit the space behind the defender.

General

Defensive Header - 3 Player Re...

Defensive header relay. 3 players with one ball. Front player of the 2 players throws up the ball to the heading player, after the player throws the ball he has to try and close down the heading player. The player heading the ball has to head the ball over the approaching player to the 3rd player waiting to catch the ball.

General

Diamond Midfield Channelling D...

Red team vs Blue team.Set up a diamond midfield formation2 strikers, 4 midfield, 4 defenders.Set up cones as shown on the diagram(3 sets of cones. 2 pairs before the top of the diamond numbered &quot;1&quot;, one pair of cones lower down in the middle of the diamond numbered &quot;2&quot;)Works on the Defence channelling the ball into certain areas.The 2 red team strikers try to stop the blue team from playing the ball through either of the &quot;1&quot; cones, so that play is encouraged into a central area (top of the diamond).Once the blue player with the ball has reached the top of the diamond, players will looks to direct him <em>outside</em> of the &quot;2&quot; cones and into wide areas (occupied by the 2 red wide midfielders).Red fullbacks need to recognise where the ball is going and move into an advanced wide position to put pressure on opposition's wide players.By doing this the red team are attempting to dictate how the ball moves.Play for half an hour.

General

Mirrors Dribbling - Football D...

Group in pairs. One ball per pair. Position one player on each side of an imaginary line made by the discs. Repeat in 5 other areas for a total of 12 players. One player starts with the ball. Neither player is allowed to cross the imaginary line. The player in possession of the ball attempts to dribble to either of the discs before the defender touches the very same disc. Repeat practice with the other player in possession. To encourage feints, try doing the practice first without a ball, then with.

General

Through Ball in the Triangle P...

Set up a rectangle, 15x10m, with a player on each corner plus two defending players inside the grid with bibs on. The outside players must try to stretch the two defenders in order to make space for the diagonal pass. In order to do this they can pass laterally and use dummy passes to send the defenders. Players keep count of how many diagonal passes they have completed.

General

3 vs 3 Football Possession - F...

Each teams has 3 players and one goal to defend and one to attack. The ball is not allowed to stop or go over head height. By passing and dribbling the ball players must try to score three goals - first to three wins!

General

Rugby Gaelic Football Sevens -...

Tell the players the following laws....... One team will be attacking, the ball carrying team. The other will be a defending team. Defending players mark attacking players. The ball is passed by kicking, and can travel in any direction. Players try to catch the ball in the air, and have 3 seconds to make the pass. They can take 3 steps in that time. Tries are scored in the usual way. Players can compete for lose balls. Players should use all of the space available, and should move the ball to space. You can make this game a little harder by saying that attacking players must catch the passed ball in the air, if they do not, then the ball is turned over to the other team.

General

defending DRILL CATEGORIES
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1 v 1 skills Drills
Defending Drills
1 v 1 skills Drills
Defending Drills
defending SESSIONS
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First Defender Technique - Sta...

Teach your defenders resist diving in and stand up to hold up attackers when they're the first line of defence!

Individual defensive awareness...

Defenders shouldn’t need to make last-ditch tackles. Develop their positional and match awareness so they can dictate the play with the opposition attackers.

Defending When Outnumbered | F...

When you do get caught on the break, make sure your defenders know their roles to slow the attacks down for the support to get back.

Defending the Attacks: Body Sh...

Develop a fortress-like defence with this individual and team defending session to hold off the attack!

Turning defence into attack - ...

Improve awareness, running off the ball and early distribution to encourage your team to move quickly from the back into attack!

Defending - Pressing | Footbal...

Press high and defend from the front. Teach your players how to nullify the oppositions outlet and win the ball high up the pitch with this session.

Retreating Defence | Football ...

If it breaks down in the middle, your players need to be thinking about recovering straight away. Make it a habit with this session.

Defensive Balance and Compactn...

Create defenders capable to reading the game effectively and making the right decisions as to where to tackle or where to channel the attackers to slow them down. This stems from their balance and team structure which this session looks to develop.

Defending in & around the pena...

Nail down the roles and responsibilities of defending in and around the box to be able to maintain structure making your team hard to break down.

Creating Space in the Midfield...

Develop your players understanding of space and how their movement (or even lack of at times) can create space to play in the midfield.

Introducing the Overlap - Over...

Create the extra man with the attacking overlap - a fluid and attacking style of passing football for all players - defence, midfield or strikers

Working as a Defensive Unit

Drum in the defensive roles and responsibilities of your players and make sure they understand what you want from them in order to win the ball back and turn defence into attack.

Plan B defending - On the edge of your Box!

Danger zone defending - create defending pressure, in and around your 18 yard box, to test your how your defenders cope!

Dealing with attacking movement

Handle the forwards movement by recognising the forwards patterns and by reading the play to anticipate where the pass and run might go to be able to prevent it.

Breaking the Block

In attack, shift a deep defence and create space with clever movement and proper decision making to exploit a block of defenders.

Pressing in small groups

Press in small groups to develop your teams understanding and feel for the movement when pressing high up the field.

Transition Play

To develop and enhance players knowledge and understanding of transition play from attack - defence, and defence - attack.

Team Shape Out Of Possession ? Defending Principles

To develop players' understanding of their roles and responsibilities when out of possession - in regards to team shape and organisation.

Attacking with an Extra Man

Create an overload in attack by providing support to attack with an extra man. Use this session to help your forwards plus develop your defenders defending capabilities with one less player.

Defending Deep

Stay compact, stay disciplined and protect a lead by defending deep with this session.
defending ANSWERS
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How can you coach defending the long ball?

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 long ball

defending the long ball

Archived User Coach

I am doing my level 2 football coaching and need help?

I am doing my level 2 football coaching and need help with my 12 session plans that i have to do 4 of them have to be linked can anyone help me Nigel

Archived User Coach

i have a test to coach a group of 8 yr olds on pressure?

i have a test to coach a group of 8 yr olds on pressure defending, does anyone have any good drills and advice on how best to conduct this test? i am new to coaching

Archived User Coach

Hi i coach an under 13s side and they play great pass?

Hi i coach an under 13s side and they play great pass and move football but we are weak when defending does anyone know any decent defence drills where they are required to work as a unit

Archived User Coach

Coach doing my FA Level 2 badge, looking for skill & SSGs on pressing?

hi im currently doing my FA level 2 badge. I have just been given my final topic on " pressing " has any one got any good technique, skill and ssg drills for this. many thanks j

Archived User Coach

reply

Hi all i asked aquestion about compact defending, i then received a email telling me somebody had anserd they inturn asked me to email my address but i could not reply to them.How do i get intouch with them?also how do i get my anser?Cheers Malcolm.

Archived User Coach

Defending the through ball

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

Archived User Coach

Team thrashed every week - where to start?

Team keep getting thrashed every week - where to start? Having been the sole coach/manager of a little league team for the past two years, this year I lost all my senior players. I was therefore presented with 10 brand new lads, some of whom have never played competitive football. We are 8 games in and my lads are getting thrashed every week. The main problems are that they cannot get the ball out of their half, positions are usually a mess, finishing and chance creation are non-existent, and they don't apply any pressure or are unable to tackle. The main problems are keeping the ball as a team, getting it in the opponents half and staying there, and creating/finishing chances. I only have 1 and a half hours a week with them. I don't really know what to do, and I'm a little desperate. Does anybody have any advice? Thanks for literally anything.

Coach, England

How do you play a 4-2-3-1 formation?

wish to change my team shape has been said best formation to understand is a 4231 shape

Archived User Coach

Annual training plan for U15 players?

HI all, how can I prepare an annual training plan for football under 15 aged athletes? If you have a sample plan please attach it to your answer. Thanks!

Archived User Coach

How do I work on set pieces for under 11s?

Which drills are the best for working on set pieces for under 11s? Asked using Sportplan on Mobile

Edwin Hussey Coach, England

Defending Drills for Under 8s

Hi we have just started out as a team and in the few friendlies we have had the children are not defending at all. I understand at this age to keep it easy and interesting but would welcome any tips I could use in training.Thanks

Bill Campbell Coach, England

Defending dead balls

My team always hesitates on defending corners. We set up right and then don't react. Can you help? Asked using Sportplan on Mobile

Coach, England

drills for corners please

hi corner drills please for u10s

Mathew Coach, England

Defender drills

Any idea's on defending on 1V1

Alan Short Coach, England
defending COMMUNITY DRILLS
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Defending in opponents half

1 V 1 DEFENDING

1v1 Defending

1v1 Faint (Skill Practice)

Autosave 75672568

Defending wide areas

Defending Corners

Defending 1vs1

Defending - 3v3

Autosave 17682877

defending WEB VIDEOS
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Crazy Football Defensive Skills &amp; Tackles - 2021 | HD

TOP 5 DEFENDING SKILLS | HOW TO DEFEND IN FOOTBALL

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