GAME SITUATION
In this drill, the defenders have to press, mark, cover and block. When the depth wave finished, they will have to defend crosses. One defender should try to stop the cross.
START
Vulnerable defense not just lose games, but also lose team bonding and confidence. Building a defender is big part of the game. It has to be serious and fun as well.
In this drill, one defending team vs 2 possession teams. The game starts with a build up at the first zone with only one pass allowed for the team in possession in that zone. The defenders will have to press high. Once the ball transferred to the possession zone, the forwards aim to pass through the gates to the opponents in their build up zone. If the defenders win the ball, they also have to pass through the gates to the opponents on their zone. Then move to defend again. You might choose different build up tactics on each side to subject defenders to different situations. In the possession zone, the forwards have to finish in set seconds, thus putting more pressure on both sides.
4V4, 4V2, 2V2
The team with the ball will have to perform set number of passes before the dare to attack the goal. The goal keeper will have to run back from the outline of the zone to his goal. This will help the team with the ball to try reach faster the line which allows them to finish. The coach should determine a line where they only allowed to finish. Then, the opponents will have to run fast after receiving the pass from the coach and finish. Now, the next rondo should be started by the other team.
RONDO, TRANSFER, ATTACK
In this drill, the 2teams will compete in rondo first. The team with the ball will have to pass the ball to the neutral player who will have to make the transfer pass to the other side of play. Then they start the attack and finish in set time of seconds.
2 COUNTER ATTACKS IN ONE
This is a drill where the attacking team will first attack the goal, then they will counter attack to pass through the gate to their defender. The defender will have to pass the opponents who will perform the same action on the other side.
COUNTER ATTACK, TIMED
In this drill, each team will have to perform 2 attacks at one goal. When finished, they transfer quickly to the next goal with no goal keeper. They will have to finish the empty goal attack at set time of seconds. This will put them under more pressure to finish which simulates the real game situation to counter attack faster.
VIDEO 2
When your players have mastered the previous drill, it is time to step up the challenge. The set up here is devised also to assure that players are activated physically, tactically, technically and to trigger their competitiveness. In 3 midfielders formation where you have a 1-2 triangle, your are expecting the 2 players to be more active forward and more sharp. The number 10 in this drill is penetrating late to receive a pass from the number 8 who penetrated through the gate, under tight pressure by a defender. After the finish of the attack, the next team start their work in the next box. Players now have to transitio.
COUNTER ATTACK RONDO
This drill is multi purpose. You can address for counter attack, transition, high pressure defensive... For youngsters, it is wise to help them develop gradually. Multi purpose drills could be slowly applied till you see and feel the youngsters ready in form. However, the drill shown here is prepared as multi purpose, i.e advanced.
The set up is devised to assure players activated their competitiveness, physical challenge, tactical work, and technical skills. The 3 C players on the borders are neutral defenders when both teams are competing for the ball in the play zone. The target for the team in possession is to complete a pre set number of passes, under high pressure of the opponents. On completion, they pass the ball to one defender on the sides. The currently neutral defenders pass the ball till it gets to the other side, which emulates a build up. When done, they pass to the player up the zone who makes a long pass to one side and finish the attack. Players now do the transition for the next round.
CHASE 3
This game starts as 2v2 with the defenders chasing. Then, 4v4 with 2 defenders chasing and 2 defending the box. After the finish of the first side, the second side start their turn. The coach should decide if this game can be upped to 6v6 or 8v8 later on. Again, the main focus in these drills is on defense.
CHASE 2
In this progression, the players will have to defend in 2 successive situations with the physical challenge. The the first one is chasing, the 2nd one they will have to defend with the their backs to their goals in a 2v2 situation.