Building the back 4 activity

This session is all about getting the back four to work together and to gain a level of understanding to stop attackers splitting the central defenders and advancing on goal. Play the Building the back 4 game at the end of this session.

 

Warm-ups

7v1 (or similar numbers, but only one defender) – if the defender gets a touch on the ball at all, they switch out and a new defender comes in 5v2 (focus on ball and support and forcing the pass one way or the other) – have the defenders go for about a minute and then get new defenders in

 

Main session

 

Set-up

You need one big goal with a keeper and for the playing area set a box at the top of the 18 that is roughly 8-10 yds wide and 7-8 yds deep. 3v2 Box – 3 attackers and 2 defenders come into the box, play for 30 seconds at a time then rotate both off and def, coach feeds balls in from top. Offense must cross the 18 at the back of the box and then go to goal – can cross line on dribble or pass but play with offsides. Defence play until ball is out of the small box and out of the 18.

 

Technique

Defenders work as a unit, stay together, never get split

 

Progression

4v3 Box (not shown) – Make box bigger (12-15 wide, 10 deep) and add one attacker and one defender – go for 45 seconds each then rotate offense and defense. Same set-up, play to goal, cross the 18 at the back of the box to go to goal

 

Technique

Work as a unit of 3 now defensively, shape will look different, stay together width and depth-wise (step and drop together)