| Defending Drills |
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| Defending Drill - Man in the middle Description: Five attackers, arranged in a circle, must keep the ball away from two pressuring defenders, who have to stay within the circle. If an attcker loses gives up the ball or it gets kicked out of the circle then he/she becomes a defender. The defender who caused the mistake becomes takes the attackers place. Explanation: When a pass ia made, the defenders have to adjust(step 2) to prevent a through ball where as the attackers have to give support(step 3). The drill is a great warm up for passing and tackling. |
| Task: Keep the ball away from the two defenders Purpose: Warm up drill, tackling, quick passing Complexity: Simple |
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| Defending Drill - Turnovers Description: Four defenders and a goal keeper are challenged by three atatckers. The attackers start with the ball and must score in the large goal whereas the defenders have to gain possesion of the ball and score in one of the small gaols. The team who concedes first has to leave the pitch and is replaced by a new team of players. Explanation: The main focus of the drill is one the defenders and how they organise a counter attack.The drill teaches defenders how to turn defense into attack. This is very important in 5 - 9 aside matches which are played on small pitches.This drill helps defenders understand their positions and can help children realise that defense doesn't have to be a boring position. |
| Task: For the attackers to score in the large goal and the defenders to score in the smaller goals. Purpose: Turnover counter attacks, group defense Complexity: Medium |
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| Defending Drill - Group defending Description: Two squads of players start inside a rectangular grid. Both teams are playing keep away. The team with control of the ball may leave the grid whereas the team who doesn't have possesion has to stay inside the grid. However if an attacker recieves the ball outside of the grid he'she has to pass back into the grid within two tocuhes(one to control and the other to pass). Explanation: This drill encompasses many features of real match situations and forces players to work together. Compactness(keeping together) is the main principle of playing group defense. In the drill the defending team must compress inside the box to force the attacking team out. The attackers have no choice but to spread out. This drill is important for both defenders and attacker. It teaches defenders how to work as a unit. It also teaches attackers the importance of spreading out. Too often at this age group attackers stand on top of each other rather than spreading out to recieve passes. |
| Task: Keep possesion of the ball by passing it in and out of the grid. The team without possesion must stay in the box. Players outside of the box have to play it back in with one or two touches. Purpose: Compact group defending, spreading out for attackers. Complexity: Complex |
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