Soccer Defending Drills

Soccer defending drills to teach proper defensive skills and team strategies.

soccer defending drills soccer defensive practices soccer defense skills defensive training sessions

Defending is a vital part of soccer that requires discipline, positioning, and teamwork to stop the opposition. This page provides drills to help players develop defensive skills such as tackling, marking, and intercepting to protect their goal effectively.

Defending Drills

Teaching 1st Defender without Opposition MEDIUM

Teaching 1st Defender without Opposition

This soccer defending drill is excellent for teaching young players how to defend when they are the closest player to the opponent with the ball.

8-14 yrs. 6+ players 15 mins. 30X30 yds. GK: no
3.78 150,733 Chris Johnson
Defensive Clearances- Up and Out MEDIUM

Defensive Clearances- Up and Out

This defensive soccer drill focuses on clearing balls from the defensive third of the field. Defenders are taught to handle difficult balls and clearing them high and wide.

12+ yrs. 4+ players 15 mins. HALF FIELD yds. GK: no
3.75 51,853 Chris Johnson
1v1 Tunnel of Death MEDIUM

1v1 Tunnel of Death

This drill can be used to focus on either attacking or defending. It teaches players to take advantage of an off balanced defender by attacking with speed or could be used to focus on good defensive posture and transition.

9-16 yrs. 5+ players 20 mins. 35X15 yds. GK: no
3.68 111,153 Chris Johnson