Soccer Defending Drills
Soccer Defending Drills will assure your team understands the tactic and technique of playing
defense during a soccer match. Defending is the ability to prevent the opponent from getting
chances and moving the ball forward. Although defense in soccer is not seen as a sexy part of the
game, the truth is playing defense is a significant component of the game of soccer, as roughly
half of your time is playing defense.
Pressure, cover, and balance are the three ingredients to coaching defense.
Pressure, cover, and balance are the three ingredients to coaching defense and is the key to
good defensive shape. The idea is to put immediate pressure on the ball in attempt to dispossess
your opponent as quickly as possible.
Pressure will teach the closest player to the ball to put pressure on the attacking player in hopes
to dispossess the attacker or make them make a mistake.
Cover is a defensive positioning that gives immediate support to the pressuring players by
positioning themselves near the pressure.
Balance refers to the ability of the team to position themselves in an excellent defensive
posture that does not allow the switching of the ball to off-balance the defense.
Browse the Latest Soccer Defending Drills
Chris Johnson
3,339 Views
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The Hexagonal Rondo is a fantastic way to enhance players' understanding of spatial awareness, quick decision-making, and teamwork in a more dynamic passing environment.
Chris Johnson
3,117 Views
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The 4-Goal Game provides a dynamic and engaging way to teach players key concepts like spatial awareness, teamwork, and quick transitions.
Chris Johnson
1,058 Views
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The 4v4 scrimmage to mini-goals is to improve quick decision-making, positioning, and finishing accuracy in a small-sided game, emphasizing both attack and defense.
Chris Johnson
22,511 Views
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This is a 2v2 + 1 attacking soccer game is played to two goals with a free attacker on the end line between the two goals. This game focuses on playing the ball forward to your target player before go…
Chris Johnson
23,967 Views
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That is a fast paced 1v1 transition game mean to focus on beating the defender and getting it into your teammate, or quickly transition to defense if the ball is lost.
Chris Johnson
16,443 Views
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This is a fast-paced 1v1 game that focuses on quickly transitioning from the attack to defense.
Chris Johnson
32,607 Views
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This 4v4 thirds of the field drill is great for improving shape and positioning.
Chris Johnson
70,614 Views
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1v1 Speed and Reaction Game is a fun addition to any practice that focuses on quick reaction and speed, ending with a 1v1 to small goals.
Chris Johnson
30,723 Views
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1v1 attacking drill that focuses on beating the defender in a 1v1 situation and finishing on a full-size goal.
Chris Johnson
42,636 Views
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This defensive soccer drill focuses on clearing balls from the back third of the field. Defenders are taught to handle difficult balls while clearing them high and wide.