Soccer coaching drill to put defenders under pressure

Use this quick turn and defend soccer (football) drill to get your soccer players winning the ball when it is coming at them from both sides. The drill puts defenders under constant pressure from attackers.

What age is this soccer drill suitable for?

This soccer (football) drill can be used for any age group. You just have to change the defender's instructions.
A good tip for younger age groups is that the defender should delay the attackers and try to move them out of the grid.

For older age groups they can use slide or block tackles as well as trying to move attackers out of the grid. However, defenders making slide tackles must get to their feet quickly to face the next attacker.

Soccer (football) drill to put defenders under pressure on all sides

Soccer drill set up

Set up the soccer drill as in the diagram.
Use a 35 x 15 yard area with two end zones marked off with cones 10 x 15 yards from the end line.
Have two players at either end of the grid and a defender in the middle grid for this drill.

How to run the soccer drill

The defender must stay in the middle grid and stop the attacker from dribbling through the grid to the other side.
If the attacker is successful in making it to the other side, the defender stays in the middle. However, if the defender wins the ball, the attacker becomes the defender and faces the next attack.
Players should attack quickly from alternate ends of the grid and take on the defender.
The defender must be quick to turn and face the attackers from either end. Only one attacker goes at a time in this drill.
If any player gets stuck defending for too long, change them over – it can become tiring and the soccer drill can lose its effectiveness. The aim of the soccer drill is to improve your players' defending skills, not to wear them out.

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