Zonal Defense: Move forward or backwards
In every movement of the ball we do, the defensive situation changes. Did the ball go forward or backwards? Is the player on the ball pressed? Does he have options to pass the ball to a free player? These are some of the several decisions that we have to practice.
4 Lanes: Create Superiority 6vs6
In a simple structure applicable to any style of play with a line of 4 in defense + 1 midfielder. You will find a lot of key tactical concepts in this drill: Shiftings, coverages, closing interior passes… and, in order to attack, a wide variety of offensive tactical concepts will be needed.
Defense in middle block for interior passes
To defend the central lane is key, and, to orientate the rival so he can just play at the side generates an advantage in order to get the ball back.
Rondo + Transition to goals
A drill composed of a tactical rondo and transitions. Your players will ask you for repeating it because they will enjoy it a lot.
Winning the ball back and play with the players on the rival´s side.
Once the ball is won back, the first option that all the coaches like is to try to move up the field and to try to benefit from the possibility of a defensive imbalance. Let’s practice it.
Transitions: Narrow down the spaces
The following situations are basic tactical and repeated situations in the game: The team that loses the ball has to close spaces, the team winning the ball back has to start winning width, opening up the field. You can practice this drill continuously.
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.
Conditioned Game: Defending in middle block
For a slow defender, the body orientation when facing a through ball is key in order to beat a faster forward. Your player’s mental quickness when making the right decision about the body shape will them improve against the through balls.
Double Box: Tactical Balance
If your team, while it is attacking, keeps a balanced structure, it will be ready to defend rapidly in an appropriate way when losing the ball. It will make your players be better at finishing, at pressing after losing the ball, in the counter attack, in the previous moves to the ball loss etc.
Hexagon Rondo
This is a very special space in order to make the players stay in triangles first and then add another player creating a diamond. Doing this we will be able to give 3 supports at least to the player on the ball, becoming a really difficult situation for the defenders to defend.