The role of the first and second defender

Equipment: four players and one ball.

Setup: Lay out a grid about twenty (20) yards wide by fifty (50) yards long.

Have two players with one ball be the attackers and two players be the defenders. The two attackers are about ten yards apart and are facing the two defenders. The defenders are defending man-to-man.

When one attacker has the ball the defender that is defending him (the “first defender”) must move up and mark him tightly shouting, “I Got Ball!”.

The other defender (the “second defender”) backs off of his man and provides defensive depth and a back-up to the first defender in case the first defender gets beat. If the attacker with the ball passes the ball to the other attacker the roles reverse. The “first defender” quickly backs off his man and becomes the “second defender”. The “second defender” comes up and marks his man (who now has the ball) tightly and becomes the “first defender”.

Note that neither defender actually tries to tackle the ball. This is passive defense only. The attackers dribble forward and pass the ball back and forth with “square” rather than penetrating passes. Each time the ball is passed the defenders shift.

When they reach the end of the 50 yard grid the attackers become defenders and vice versa and they come back down the grid. This can be a very aerobic drill. Care should be taken to instruct the defenders that they must change positions quickly and should never turn their backs to the attackers. Attackers should press the attack.

Once they have done this drill several times the instructor should request that the second defender be verbal and always let the first defender know which way to take his man.

In game situations this allows the defenders to move the attacker away from shots at goal and into position to be double-teamed and tackled.

This drill should be done at full or 3/4 speed. If the players are too tired after a few minutes swap out for four new players.

Variation: After the initial demonstration set up several grids so that all players on the team can run the drill simultaneously – eliminating lines.

Variation: Have attackers run overlaps so that defenders know which player is their responsibility when the attackers overlap.

Variation: After you have successfully run the drill several times you can now allow the attackers to use overlaps and penetrating passes. But still do not allow the defenders to tackle the ball. This drill is about positioning, communication and responsibility. It’s more important that the players understand when they can tackle than to actually tackle the ball. Once you’ve run this drill for several session, widen the grid to 20 yards x 50 yards and take all restrictions off attackers and defenders. Be sure to “freeze” the drill at any moment that you see a defender (not attacker) make a positioning or timing mistake.

Double defending

Objectives:

To practice correct defensive stance.

To practice closing down and holding up.

To demonstrate how effective support defending can be.

To help attackers make decisions over trying to push and go past a defender.

Description:

I have a 30yd x 20yd grid marked our for training purposes, internally marked to create 4 x 15yd x 10yd grids. This activity can involve up to 16 players at a time as each pair of teams (offensive & defensive) work longitudinally through one half of the 30 x 20 grid.

Have 3 or 4 players line up at one end of the grid (30yds long but only 10yds wide – i.e. half of the whole grid), each with a ball. They must each, in turn, try and dribble past the approaching defender and stop the ball on the opposite end line to score a point.

Have 3 or 4 players line up at the opposite end of the grid without a ball. These defenders must close down the attacker as quickly as possible and try and hold him/her up, kicking the ball away if possible (no slide tackling is allowed).

Although the defensive players usually do ok at first, the quicker and more skilful attackers start to push the ball past the defenders (often through their legs as they try and get used to the open legged stance)and have more success.

After the attackers have had perhaps three attempts at beating the defenders I then let the next defender in line support the first defender. I usually demonstrate the technique one or two times, showing how talking to the first (pressure) defender helps. The success rate of the defenders soars thus highlighting the benefit of good support (double) defending.

When an attacker has been ‘seen off’ the pressure defender goes to the back of his line, his support defender becomes the next pressure defender and the third player in line becomes the support defender. This prevents pairs of players getting used to just defending with each other.

3 points can be scored by the defensive team if they manage to force the attacker all the way back to his/her end line. It is surprising how forceful some players get when they realise how effective this teamwork can be.

This activity also helps attackers realise that pushing the ball past one defender is not going to be as effective if there is a supporting defender close by. Therefore, if they are getting their head up early, they can make much more incisive decisions on when to ‘go for it’ on their own and when to pass to a team mate.

Continuous 2v2

Mark a small grid 15yd wide by 25yd long, with 2-3 yard goals (marked out with cones) at the ends. Have about 3 teams of two at each end. Teams play 2v2, but any time the ball goes over and end line (whether in the goal or not), the next team waiting at that end immediately starts attacking, and the team that shot the ball over the end line must defend. The team that was defending leaves the field and goes back behind their goal. This game gets moving very quickly; have plenty of extra balls handy at each end and along the sidelines to keep things going. Each team keeps its own score.

Coaching points: Attackers must be ready to immediately transition to defence, maintain shape so as not to get countered. Always be alert if waiting on the end line; if ball goes over the end line attack immediately and don’t let the other team get set up.

Can focus on any 1st/2nd attacker or defender concepts.

5v2

Five offensive players try to keep the ball away from two defenders. Switch defender with any offensive player who makes a mistake.

COACHING POINTS

Offence

“Two players must show short for support”–player with the ball must always have two passing options nearby. These players should ‘open wide’ by getting to the sides of the grid quickly.

“Play facing the inside of the grid”–particularly when receiving a pass. Don’t get trapped in a corner.

Defence

“Communicate”–who’s pressuring the ball? Who’s in support?

“Don’t get split” — a split occurs when the ball is passed in between the defenders (as opposed to a pass to a supporting player on the side).

VARIATIONS

Vary the size of the grid.

Require a one or two-touch restriction.

1v1 Battles

The Game

Play one v one, trying to score through a ‘two-sided’ goal. There is no out-of-bounds. The player in possession of the ball is the attacker, the other player, the defender. Play games of one minute in duration.

Coaching Points

Defenders: steer attacker away from the goal, tackle when ball is exposed, get goal side when possession is lost.

Attackers: try to face the defender whenever possible change speed, change direction; shield the ball when trying to maintain possession.

Defending – it’s as easy as 1-2-3!

With young players, the hardest, and in my opinion, the most important single aspect to get across is that the closest person to the opponent with the football DOES NOT have the responsibility to win the ball! Once defenders understand this, about 90% of diving in is eliminated and the attackers job becomes much harder.

It also reinforces the next most important concept: that somebody had BETTER be moving to cover the space behind the closest defender! That is the player who will, most often, wind up winning the ball.

You can demonstrate this quite easily by selecting the best defensive soccer player on the team, placing that player isolated out on the pitch, point to a goal for him or her to defend, and then tell them to “get the ball” from you. Then, simply dribble up to the player, push the ball past, into space, and run onto it. If you can get the defender to step towards you, you can do this quite easily.

Ask the team why this was so easy. Now ask how you can prevent it from happening.

Somebody should come up with having a teammate behind the pressuring defender.

Now repeat the demonstration with another opponent who has been instructed to cover the space. Also ask the closest (pressuring) defender to not win the ball unless a mistake is made by the attacker. Run it again and you should see a huge improvement.

Closest person to the opponent with the ball (the first defender) applies the PRESSURE

YOUR JOB IS TO SLOW THE ATTACK, NOT WIN THE BALL and to slow the attacker down.

Apply just enough pressure to get the attackers head down
Make the attack predictable and push the attack to the least dangerous part of the field
Only attempt to win the ball if the attacker makes a mistake and you are sure to win it. BE PATIENT!

Tips for the first defender

Pressure the ball IMMEDIATELY!

Do not dive in, just slow the attack down and make it predictable. PATIENCE!!
Eyes on the ball
Weight even between legs, and forward on toes, knees bent
Feet shoulder width apart, one foot forward
Do not mark too close until you have help – a wall pass may beat you.
Mark close enough that the attacker has to keep her head down looking at the ball.
Herd the attacker towards the touch-line
Tackle only if you are sure you will win the ball.
Risk tackles more in the offensive third of the field (closer to the opponents goal)
Tackle if the attacker is alone and outnumbered.
Tackle if you can touch the ball before the attacker can.

The next closest person to the ball provides the COVER

YOUR JOB IS TO BACK UP THE PRESSURING DEFENDER.
Cover the space behind the pressuring defender.
Adjust your distance based on the speed of the attack, and the skill and speed of the attacker.
Communicate with the pressuring defender, let him or her know that you are there, tell them which way to push the attack, if necessary.

Others provide the BALANCE

Mark any nearby attacking threats who could receive the ball directly from the ball carrier.
Track and other attackers who are moving, or could move into threatening positions.
Cut out any passing lanes. This can often be done while marking or tracking opponents.
Communicate with your teammates. Point out any unmarked threats, or any opponents making runs.
Be ready to assume the role of pressuring or covering defender if the situation changes.

Tips for the second and third defenders

2nd Defender:

Cover the space behind the 1st defender. LET THE 1st DEFENDER KNOW YOU ARE THERE!
Be a little bit toward the goal side usually.

3rd Defender:

Cut off passing options; especially square (cross-field) passes.

You can either mark the receivers, or the space between them and the ball.
RECOVER – It is never to late to run back and help your team-mates.
STAY COMPACT – Do not be drawn out of shape.
Make sure that the far post area is covered as the ball nears your goal.
Do not be caught ball watching. Track players moving forward.
Do not release your mark to go after a back pass unless you are CERTAIN that a team-mate is there to cover, AND does not have a mark of his own to cover! Usually this means the covering player TELLS YOU TO GO. So communicate!

Breakaways

A competitive drill that improves defence and attacking skills

Set-up:

Divide your team into attackers and defenders.

Attackers in red bibs, defenders in blue bibs.

Three lines of attackers – A1, A2 and A3 – spread out equally at the midline. A1 has the football.

Centre defender D1 is positioned at the top of arc.

The goalkeeper is positioned in front of the goal somewhere out near the edge of 6 yard box.

Two additional lines of defenders D2 and D3 at opposite sides of the pitch on the touchline about ten yards inside of midfield. The defenders D2 and D3 should count slowly to 5 before entering the field.

Attacker A1 dribbles at defender D1 and uses combinations of passes, overlaps, wall passes, through balls, etc. with A2 and A3 in a 3v1 breakaway to get a shot or cross off. First touch shots that score are to be rewarded with two points. Other goals count one point.

Coaching Points:

Defender D1’s job is NOT to tackle A1 or win the ball, but rather to delay the attack (until help is available) and force the player with the ball wide (out of the middle) in order to give up poor chances of scoring only – that is shots from out wide and shots that the keeper will be able to cut the angle down and defend easily. It is also very important that defender D1 position himself so that he can intercept passes into the area in front of the goal should the player with the ball choose to cross the ball.

The defenders D2 and D3 should count slowly to 5 before entering the field. Their job is to make looping recovery runs to aid defender D1. They should pick up an attacker to defend or combine with D1 to double-team the player with the ball only if they can do so without risking giving up an easy shot on goal. If they are unsure where to make their recovery run to, tell them to go to the penalty spot and organize their team defence from the penalty spot into a better defensive position. When in doubt, the penalty spot is the universal recovery destination. Defenders should get goal-side of their marks as soon as possible.

Defenders should not tackle or try to win the ball until they have their defense organized and have defensive support behind the tackler or double-team.

Attackers can not waste time as defenders D2 and D3 will recover within five seconds. They must combine quickly to work the ball into shooting position and must get a shot off before D2 and D3 are in recovery positions. First touch shots are a must. They should also “crash” the goal immediately after the shot is taken. Goals only count if all three players touch the net within three seconds of a shot. Coaches should count out loud to remind players.

On offence, the objective in a 2 on 1 situation (or 3 on 1) is to get the ball to an open attacker in the middle. If … the attacker comes out from the middle too early the job is relatively easy. The player dribbling down the outside of the field need only pass to their teammate in the middle. If the defender is much smarter and stays in the middle then the player with the ball should dribble at an angle across the field toward the far corner. The other attacking player should wait until just after they have passed the middle, then run behind them toward the opposite corner of the field. This crossing movement confuses the defenders and the goalie. It draws the defenders out of position and creates a good opportunity for the second attacker to take a drop pass or back heel pass and shoot into the open net on the far side of the goal. A similar crossing movement is also useful in 2-on-2 fastbreaks. From “The Art of Soccer” by Mark Catlin, MD

On defence, From “The Art of Soccer” by Mark Catlin, MD

Delay
Don’t be beaten
Force play to the outside
Protect the centre, prevent movement and passing to the centre
Approach ball when scoring threat is high but at an angle to prevent centering pass.

Options:

Count by defenders D2 and D3 can be adjusted depending upon age and success wanted. A higher count (i.e. 10) to start off to insure that attackers get a shot off. After initial success, move to a lower count to apply pressure to get shot off quicker.

Vary number of defenders that start in box.

Give defenders one point for every attack that they thwart. Keep score.

Start ball with attacker A2 or A3 to vary the attack origin and options and movement off of the ball.

Animal Ball

This game works on aggressiveness, winning balls, passing, defending and finishing.

It can be done with as few as 8 players or as many as 18.

The field should be approximately 30 yards long and the width of the 18-yard box (44 yards wide). A full sized goal is on each end line with a keeper in each goal. There are two teams on the field. A server starts out wide and serves balls into the playing area in the air. Whichever team wins the ball tries to score by shooting into EITHER goal. This means you have two teams trying to win the ball in the air, and get a shot hit as quickly as possible. If the first team that wins the ball then loses it to the second team the second team then tries to score in either goal.

Animal ball works on winning the ball in the air (if a team doesn’t like to win balls in the air you can put in a requirement that if the ball hits the ground from the initial serve without a player touching it first, it is a “dead ball” and a new ball gets served in it’s place) and getting to goal quickly. While there is some passing in this game, it’s more about the willingness to take a chance and shoot rather than passing the ball around till the perfect opportunity arises for a shot. This game is more about finishing than it is about shooting (when you work on shooting you frequently work on proper technique and placement of the plant foot etc but when you work on finishing it’s frequently a case of being willing to put any part of the body on the ball to get it on goal).

First team to score 10 goals in Animal Ball wins the game.