Defensive positioning
To defend in a coordinate way is key for the defensive success. With only a few simple references you will achieve right habits in your players such as defensive balance, a right distance between lines or the coordination to move forward or backwards.
Rondo: draw in rivals
In this drill, the offensive players will win two points if they repeat the same pass in order to attract the defenders first so they can pass it then to the free farther players. The defenders will have to be coordinated to do the pressing choosing the right moment to do it. These tactical momentums are key and they will appear many times in the real game.
Conditioned Game: High or Mid Pressure
To get in the right shape to defend a through ball it is what is going to make our defenders to reach the ball before the forwards do. In this tactical defensive drill, we will face real game situations so the defenders learn how to get in the right shape. All of this in a press drill.
Play pressed and switch zone
To include the goalkeepers in the building drills is key for them to then do it comfortably during the games. In the drill, we will start building the game to then advance in the game overcoming the opposition high press. The defenders practice the high press and to close passing lines.
Direct Attack: Final Minutes
Maybe your team just uses the direct style of play occasionally (e.g when losing in the last minutes of a game), but it is more than likely that your team will face teams that use it during most of the minutes. To practice it in the same proportion as it is played in your competition is both correct and necessary.
Different Spaces
We will use this tactical drill in order to identify empty spaces and to play not only with the closest players but also with the intermediate and the players farther away. This drill will make your player give the right importance to play easy passes in reduced spaces. In the drill you will practice the decision making when it comes to play quick, to move, to stay and to delay the game.
Offensive and Defensive Transition 3 Teams
To practice both the momentum when losing the ball and when winning it back is key. It makes us be better on the offensive and defensive transition. We will use this drill as a tactical situation to activate the defenders’ press after losing the ball and for the team that has just win the ball back to play quick and easy.
Possession + Finishing
For the team that has won the ball back, is key to give support, to make runs to lose the marker and to look for the free men. For the defenders, the key is to press the player on the ball, to defend the passing lines and to identify the free men.
Defending Attacks from the Flanks
Being in a good position for defending a cross is as important as moving forward across the field in order to avoid a shoot. To create offensive situations to reach the goal’s rival in a better position it is the next step when attacking.
Anticipation, Man to Man Marking and Losing own Marker
It is not easy for a coach to teach the player which is the appropriate moment to make a run to lose the defender, to teach which is the speace where he has to run to, etc… what if you create a situation where the player is able to identify it and solve it by himself?