Defend first, attack second

Overview

Defend first, attack second emphasises the importance of defenders putting pressure on the attackers to regain the ball. Once in possession the defenders need to make good forward passes and run to counter attack the opponent’s goal.

SET UP

• Pitch 60yds x 30yds including two 10yd end zones

See complete set up here

What you get your players to do

Get your players into three teams of four.

One team goes in each half and one team (white) is positioned on the centre line. This team starts as the attackers and makes a one-two with the red team to start the game.

The central team (white) now attacks the red team and attempts to score in the red team’s goal.

The red team must employ good tackling skill to regain possession.

Next a red team player fires a pass forward to the blue team and a team mate runs to receive a return pass to attack the blue team’s goal.

Rules

• The game is played for ten minutes
• If the ball leaves play, or is saved by the keeper, then the defending team has defended successfully and the game restarts with a forward pass and run to counter attack
• Punish poor defence by making the team defend again and again until it wins the ball. When a team concedes a goal you pass a new ball in to the opposition. This rule ensures the defending team is successful before it has a chance to counter attack
• If the attackers score, they get another chance on goal

Development/progression

When attacking, players are allowed into the goalkeeper’s end zone. This rule forces the defenders to press the attackers and stop shots on goal.