Soccer coaching game for defending from the front

Closing down opposition defenders in their half is a job for your forwards and midfielders to do.

If your attackers work together, they are more likely to win the ball back nearer to the opponent's goal and have a greater chance to score.

How to set it up

Use an area 40 yards by 30 yards with two goals and two goalkeepers.

Split into teams of three. The black team defends one area, the white team defends the other, and the grey team plays as attackers in both areas.

How to play it

The goalkeeper rolls the ball out to the defending white team which must make three passes in a 3v3 situation against the grey attackers before passing to the team in the opposite half of the pitch (black team).

If a successful pass is made to the opposite team then the grey attacking team must advance into the other half of the pitch to pressure the black team who must make the three passes.

If the grey team wins possession they should try and score in the goal they are facing.

Change team roles every three defensive moves, so grey defends the black end, black defends the white end, and white become the pressing team in the middle.

This session is from Perfect Defending by Michael Beale, designed to help coach players in every aspect of the game, from individual core skills to team-based defending strategies.

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