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Defending drills and games

The defensive soccer drills and games in this section will help you coach your players to work as a unit at the back. We look at how your players should organise themselves, what are their roles and responsibilities as defenders, and how they should react in different defensive situations.

With work, you should be able to coach your players to control the game at the back and to start great passing moves leading to goals at the other end.

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Practice 1: Winning the ball

Three-part session to master the ‘four S’s’ of defending – sprint, slow down, side-on, steal.

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Practice 2: Winning the ball

Three-part session to master the ‘four S’s’ of defending – sprint, slow down, side-on, steal.

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Practice 3: Winning the ball

Three-part session to master the ‘four S’s’ of defending – sprint, slow down, side-on, steal.

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Practice 1: Delay for support

Three-part session to develop defenders’ ability to delay their opponents until help arrives.

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Practice 2: Delay for support

Three-part session to develop defenders’ ability to delay their opponents until help arrives.

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Practice 3: Delay for support

Three-part session to develop defenders’ ability to delay their opponents until help arrives.

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Repetition circuit

Two areas, side-by-side, allows for dynamic 1v2 action to develop a wide range of skills.

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Combat 2v2

Players are challenged to attack quickly, and be compact when defending, in this activity.

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Full-back attack

Use this practice to encourage your wide defenders to make supporting runs up field and get attempts on goal.

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Practice 1: Exploiting overloads

Develop players’ understanding of when and how to make the most of a numerical advantage.

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Practice 2: Exploiting overloads

Develop players’ understanding of when and how to make the most of a numerical advantage.

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Small-sided game: Exploiting overloads

Develop players’ understanding of when and how to make the most of a numerical advantage.

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Small-sided game: Pressed into action

Apply pressure, regain possession and then use the ball in this session. Use this session as a standalone activity, or combine it with two ...

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Practice: Pressed into action

Apply pressure, regain possession and then use the ball in this session. Use this session as a standalone activity, or combine it with two ...

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Warm-up: Pressed into action

Apply pressure, regain possession and then use the ball in this session. Use this session as a standalone activity, or combine it with two ...

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Small-sided game: Through the thirds

Develop your players’ ability to play through a crowded midfield with this three-part session.

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Practice: Through the thirds

Develop your players’ ability to play through a crowded midfield with this session.

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Execute the high press

Developing players’ ability to work as a unit and apply pressure up the pitch.

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Forcing the play

Use this activity to train your players to make opposition forwards go hungry by cutting off their supply lines.

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Practice 1: Counter pressing

Three-part session on a key facet of the modern game - reacting to win back possession.

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Pressing to dictate

Work on the pressing of the front three to force the play in a particular direction.

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Practice 2: We’re outnumbered!

Three-part session to help defenders protect the goal when they are short-handed.

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Practice 1: We’re outnumbered!

Three-part session to help defenders protect the goal when they are short-handed.

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Small-sided game: We’re outnumbered!

Three-part session to help defenders protect the goal when they are short-handed.

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Defending drills and games

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Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club

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Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada

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