The Set-up: In a space approximately 30W X 40L, two teams of 4 play a match. There should be a clearly marked middle line.

The Game: A normal 4v4 game takes place, but on loss of possession, the team that lost possession MUST immediately recover to their half of the field before defending. By doing so, the defensive team will reduce the space between themselves making it difficult to penetrate. Recovering to your half is standing rule throughout the game.

Rule: If the attacking team scores, they get a point for the goal and an additional point for every defensive player not in the defensive half of the field.

Focus:

• Working as a unit
• When and how to pressure and cover
• Spacing between defenders (creating a “defensive block”)/Compactness
• Transition and Recovery

Note: This exercise is appropriate to use with larger numbers (6v6, 8v8, 11v11) and/or to regulation goals.

The Set-up: Create a 15 yard triangle (as pictured), Divide team into two groups, attackers and defenders (red/white). It’s not necessary to have the group divided by color, but it helps for the explanation of the exercise. The defender (Red) starts along the end-line with a ball. The attacker (white) stands at the top of the triangle.

Note: This exercise is best in groups of 6 to 8. If you have 12 players, create a second triangle.

The Game: Red passes the ball to white and quickly moves out to defend. White attempts to dribble the end-line. Red attempts to defend in the upper portion of the triangle (MUST close the space in order to do so), win the ball back and dribble the upper side-line.

Coach should focus on the Defender:

• Immediate pressure to the ball (“close the space”)
• Speed of approach (Fast first couple of steps, but slow down as you approach the attacker)
• Get side on (“steer the attack”)
• Soft on your feet, knees bent, weight slightly toward your back foot
• Patient defending (“Don’t dive in”)
• Winning the ball back
• Counter (Dribble the sideline)

This is a great exercise to teach players to close the space since the slower one is in doing so the more room the attacker has to operate within the triangle.

Progression (Pictured on Right Side of the Diagram): The same exercise, but with the addition of counter goals. Now, if red can win the ball back and dribble the sideline, he or she can attack the counter goals.

Note: Coach should encourage white to defend upon loss of possession and not allow red to counter!

Rotation: Rotate from attacking to defending line, defending to attacking line or have one team defend/attack for a certain period (ex. 4 minutes) and then switch roles.

The Set-up: Create multiple 2 yard triangles, Players pair up (red/white) and are assigned a triangle, one ball b/n the two. The defender (white) starts inside the triangle with a ball. The attacker (red) stands 5 to 7 yards outside the triangle.

The Game: White passes the ball to red and quickly moves out to defend. Red tries to dribble through the triangle. Attackers get 5 points for dribbling through the triangle. Switch roles after each attack. Keep score!

Coach should focus on the Defender:

• Immediate pressure to the ball (“close the space”)
• Speed of approach (Fast first couple of steps, but slow down as you approach the attacker)
• Get side on (“steer the attack”)
• Soft on your feet, knees bent, weight slightly toward your back foot
• Patient defending (“Don’t dive in”)

Variation 1: Play promotion relegation. Winner moves up, loser drops back.

Variation 2: Groups of 3, Rotation, Defender to Attacker, Attacker to Resting, Resting to Defender.

Note: 1v1 is very demanding so building in some rest into the activity can create a higher level of intensity.

The Set-up: One ball per four players. The player with the ball (ball in hands) stands 5 yards across from his/her three teammates. The group of three should be approximately 2 yard apart from one another.

The Exercise: The player with the ball can toss the ball to any one of the three players. The two players that don’t have the ball tossed to them race to join the original server. This creates a new group of three.

Focus: Quick Recognition, Explosive reaction, Move while the ball is traveling.

Note: The pass should clearly be played to one player. Server does not follow his/her pass!

Progression: The ball is now on the floor. Same exercise as before, but the ball is now passed to one of the three players.

The Exercise: The player with the ball begins 5 yards across from his/her three teammates. The group of three should be approximately 2 yard apart from one another. All players should attempt to keep this spacing throughout.

The player with the ball can:

1. Dribble laterally- Defensive group should slide as a unit
2. Run at the defenders- Defensive group should” fall off”
3. Dribble away from the defenders- Defensive group should “take space”
4. Pass the ball to one of the three players- other two sprint to form a new group of three

Focus: Quick Recognition and Proper Defensive moment based on visual cues, Communication!, Explosive reaction, Move while the ball is traveling.

The Set-up: In a 10×10 box with a cone/disc placed in the center, divide 12 players into 4 groups of 3 with one ball per group. Two players from each group stand at the outer discs with one ball between them. The third player works as the defender.

The Exercise: The players on the outside pass the ball back and forth using two touches. The defender works on closing the space, moving at angles- dropping off & taking space, keeping sight of the ball, remaining in a good defensive position.

Note: The defender moves at full speed, but does not attempt to win the ball.

Rotate: Change defender every 60 to 90 seconds.

The players are divided by color to help clarify the diagram, but it isn’t necessary to do so for this particular exercise.

Mistake! The defender at the top of the diagram is tracking the ball laterally. This is an incorrect movement and should be corrected.

The Exercise: The players on the outside continue to pass the ball back and forth using two touches. The defender works on closing the space, moving at angles- dropping off & taking space, keeping sight of the ball, remaining in a good defensive position, but now when the coach says GO! (or whistles), the defenders quickly move across to defend the ball in the area that was directly behind them. Example, Red switches to defend the whites, white the reds.

Added Focus of Quick reaction & closing speed over greater distance.

Rotate: Change defender every 60 to 90 seconds.

Variation: Have the defenders move clockwise or counterclockwise on coaches command.