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

Hexagonal Rondo

Chris Johnson 3,339 Views Rating 0 (0 Reviews)

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.

4-Goal Game

Chris Johnson 3,117 Views Rating 0 (0 Reviews)

The 4-Goal Game provides a dynamic and engaging way to teach players key concepts like spatial awareness, teamwork, and quick transitions.

4v4 Scrimmage to Mini-Goals

Chris Johnson 1,058 Views Rating 0 (0 Reviews)

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.

2v2 + 1 to Two Goals

Chris Johnson 22,511 Views Rating 0 (0 Reviews)

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…

1v1 Transition Game

Chris Johnson 23,967 Views Rating 0 (0 Reviews)

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.

1v1 Transition

Chris Johnson 16,443 Views Rating 0 (0 Reviews)

This is a fast-paced 1v1 game that focuses on quickly transitioning from the attack to defense.

4v4, Thirds of the Field, Shape and Positioning

Chris Johnson 32,607 Views Rating 0 (0 Reviews)

This 4v4 thirds of the field drill is great for improving shape and positioning.

1v1 Speed and Reaction Game

Chris Johnson 70,614 Views Rating 0 (0 Reviews)

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.

1v1 Attacking to a Full-Size Goal

Chris Johnson 30,723 Views Rating 0 (0 Reviews)

1v1 attacking drill that focuses on beating the defender in a 1v1 situation and finishing on a full-size goal.

Defensive Clearances- Up and Out

Chris Johnson 42,636 Views Rating 0 (0 Reviews)

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.