Soccer Defending Drills

Soccer Defending Drills will assure your team understands the tactic and technique of playing defense during a soccer match. Defending is the ability to prevent the opponent from getting chances and moving the ball forward. Although defense in soccer is not seen as a sexy part of the game, the truth is playing defense is a significant component of the game of soccer, as roughly half of your time is playing defense.

Pressure, cover, and balance are the three ingredients to coaching defense.

Pressure, cover, and balance are the three ingredients to coaching defense and is the key to good defensive shape. The idea is to put immediate pressure on the ball in attempt to dispossess your opponent as quickly as possible.

Pressure will teach the closest player to the ball to put pressure on the attacking player in hopes to dispossess the attacker or make them make a mistake.

Cover is a defensive positioning that gives immediate support to the pressuring players by positioning themselves near the pressure.

Balance refers to the ability of the team to position themselves in an excellent defensive posture that does not allow the switching of the ball to off-balance the defense.

Browse the Latest Soccer Defending Drills

3v3 Plus 3

This drill focuses on keeping possession. Passing, receiving, movement, and angle of support can be singled out. Causes players to look up and be aware of the surrounding players.

4.16 (106) 283,913 Views

4v4, To Lines or Small Goals

In Soccer, 4v4 is the smallest version of a full-sided game. While on the attack, to be successful in a four vs. four matches, players must penetrate via the pass, dribble, or shot; players must provide support to the player with the ball, and players need to create width to the field. On the defensive side of the field, players must provide pressure to the ball, delay the attack, cover for the player pressuring the ball, and balancing the field of play. This 4v4 practice focuses on all aspects of the match including attacking, defending, passing, receiving, support, penetration, and spreading the field.

4.24 (75) 175,600 Views