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Soccer: Defending Stance

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DESCRIPTION

Set up with 2 cones as shown with 2 players at each end and 1 ball.

Player with the ball passes the ball across and then quickly closes their pass down. Once they get close they take a defensive stance and move backwards as the player on the ball dribbles forward.

Once they get halfway the player defending quickly retreats and then receives the pass before changing roles.

COACHING POINTS

Demand firm passes to test the first touch of your players.

Defending stance should be like a boxer, remaining sideways, on their toes and showing the attacker one way or the other but not both.

For younger players you can use the saying of 'get on your surfboard' to give the image of the defending stance.

Players should not tackle.

PROGRESSION

You can maniplulate the distance between the two cones accordingly to give more or less practice on the type of movement you want and to also demand a different distance of passing.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Defending 1 On 1 With A Goalkeeper:

Goalkeeper passes to player 2, who must attempt to dribble the ball past player 1 and score a goal. Player 1 assumes a sideways position and blocks the path to the goal. If the defender wins the ball, he should try to dribble over the end line. Rotate positions.

Allow the player to shoot as soon as he receives the ball. The player must close down the space to the ball and get into line between the attacker and the goal as quickly as possible.

Defending

1 V 1 - 3 Goal Game:

Two players line up on opposite sides of a square.

The attacking player dribbles the ball towards the centre before then attempting to stop the ball between one of the goals.

The goal nearest to the defender's starting point is worth 10 points as it is the hardest goal to stop the ball in. The middle goal is worth 5 and the top goal only 1 point.

Defending

Lateral defending with cover:

Red defends blue. The blue player must try and beat the red defenders and reach one of the blue cones, with the ball still under control.

Red player 2 role is to cover the other defender. Whenever either red player gets in possession, the other red must find space so as to create a passing option.

Defending

1 Vs. 1 Channelling:

Two teams line up side by side behind their cones. When the player with the ball sets off to run around the cone the drill is live.

The player with the ball must run around the cone and then try to score a goal in the defender's side goal by dribbling the ball across the line. This will score them a point.

The defenders have to try and force the player to run across their own goal line or tackle them and run the ball over the line themselves.

The winner is the first team to 3 goals. After this you can swap the roles around, with the attackers now defending and vice versa.

Defending

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