Coping with aerial bombardment

A great way to put your defenders under pressure at training is to get your players to bombard your best three defenders with high balls into the penalty area so they are constantly having to clear them, says Dave Clarke. Prepare to defend against long ball tactics You often find on match day that you have prepared your team for everything except an aerial bombardment from a team with big, strong players who, whenever they get the chance, blast the ball into the penalty area. It’s no good having great defenders who can take the ball off an attacker if they cannot head it away when they are under attack. Players need to generate power When heading the ball tell your defenders they must have plenty of power. Tell them to arch their backs and swing their heads forward to get the power from their shoulders to head the ball away, or to judge the flight of the ball to volley it away.