Soccer Defending Drills
Soccer defending drills to teach proper defensive skills and team strategies.
Soccer Defending Drills
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.
1v1 Corner Escape
This drill sharpens a player’s ability to receive under pressure, recognize defensive cues, and dribble into space. It emphasizes decision-making, ball protection, and breaking away from pressure in tight areas.
4v4 + Keeper to Full-Size Goals
This drill simulates real match conditions by developing players' ability to attack, defend, and transition in small-sided play. It encourages quick decision-making, team communication, and finishing with the added challenge of goalkeepers.
3v3 Plus Keepers to Full-Size Goals
This drill improves small-group attacking and defending, finishing under pressure, and goalkeeper distribution. It simulates game-like conditions in a compact space, encouraging quick decisions and dynamic play.
2v1 with Keepers
Develops attacking players' ability to exploit numerical advantages in a 2v1 situation. Encourages defenders to delay and disrupt play while improving goalkeeper distribution and decision-making.
1v1 to Tall Cones
This drill develops individual attacking and defending skills by challenging players to dribble under pressure, protect the ball, and accurately pass or shoot to knock over cones for points.
3v3 to Goals
This drill develops players' ability to attack and defend in small spaces while encouraging quick decision-making, teamwork, and fitness through constant movement.
Dribbling and Turning with Pressure on the Back
This drill teaches players how to turn effectively when under defensive pressure. It improves awareness, body positioning, and ball protection while developing confidence in 1v1 situations.
Dribbling with Pressure on the Back
This drill improves a player's ability to protect the ball while dribbling under pressure. It teaches awareness, quick reactions, and body positioning to maintain possession against a defender.
2v2 with 4 Small Goals Funino
This drill enhances small-group play by developing combination play, defensive communication, and finishing under pressure. Players work on quick transitions between attack and defense in a game-like setting.
1v1 with 4 Small Goals Funino
This drill improves 1v1 attacking skills, defensive positioning, and finishing under pressure. Players learn to recognize attacking opportunities while also being responsible for defending their assigned goals.
1v1 Elimination Challenge
This drill sharpens 1v1 attacking, defending, and finishing under pressure. Players must react quickly after scoring, transition between attack and defense, and stay composed in high-pressure situations.
4v4+1 Corner Support Rondo
This drill improves quick passing, spatial awareness, and teamwork by encouraging players to use both central and corner support players to maintain possession. Players develop composure under pressure and transition awareness.
4v4+4 Corner Rondo
This drill enhances passing accuracy, spatial awareness, and teamwork by encouraging players to use the four corner players as outlets to maintain possession. It also develops defensive pressure and quick transitions.
4v4+4 Continuous Transition Rondo
This drill enhances quick decision-making, possession retention, and defensive pressing. Players develop composure under pressure, transition speed, and teamwork through a continuous cycle of possession and defending.
4v4+3 Continuous Transition Rondo
This drill develops quick decision-making, first-touch passing, defensive pressing, and transition play. Players learn to maintain possession under pressure while reacting instantly to role changes when possession shifts.
3v3, 4-Goal Small-Sided Game Funino
This drill encourages players to recognize attacking opportunities by creating space, making quick decisions, and choosing the best option between two goals. Defensively, players learn to cover space effectively and transition quickly.
Hexagonal Rondo
The Hexagonal Rondo drill focuses on quick passing and movement within a six-sided grid, emphasizing control and spatial awareness. Players work to maintain possession by creating passing angles and exploiting gaps in the defensive shape. The objective is to enhance technical precision, quick decision-making, and fluid team coordination.
4-Goal Game
The 4-Goal Game drill simulates match conditions, encouraging players to switch the point of attack while maintaining team shape. This drill focuses on quick ball circulation to retain possession and balance the field to prevent counterattacks. The objective is to develop players' spatial awareness, movement, and strategic positioning under game-like pressure.
4v4 Scrimmage to Mini-Goals
The objective of a 4v4 soccer scrimmage to mini-goals is to replicate the dynamics of a full-sided game in a smaller, more controlled environment. This format encourages players to focus on quick decision-making, positioning, and maintaining possession under pressure, as well as improving their ability to transition between attacking and defending. The mini-goals emphasize accuracy and composure in front of the goal, helping players develop finishing skills without the presence of a goalkeeper.
2v2 + 1 to Two Goals
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 going to goal.
1v1 Transition Game
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
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
This 4v4 drill is great for improving shape and positioning. Each player has their own responsibility: 1) attacker/target player stretches the field closer to the goal they are attacking. 2) winger players stretch the width of the field. 3) defensive player gives support to wingers and target player while staying the last man.
1v1 Speed and Reaction Game
This 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
This 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
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.
Circle Rondo Soccer Drill
This circle rondo soccer drill is a great warm-up drill before a game, or a drill for your practice session.
4v2 Soccer Game to Goal
This 4v2 game will focus on building an attack near the penalty area and getting shots on goal. Forwards will have to make a decision to turn and score or lay the ball off to the mid-fielder. The focus of this drill is score, score, score!
1v1 Battle - Attacking and Reaction Drill
This 1v1 soccer battle drill will focus on the attacker's change of direction, change of pace, and burst of speed to the goal all while working on the defender's ability to close down the attacker quickly, reaction time, speed of recovery, and angles of defense.
2v2 Battle - Attacking and Defending Drill
This 2v2 soccer attacking and defending drill focuses on the attacker's decision to dribble, pass, or shoot. From the defensive side, they must quickly close down the attackers and deny space.
1v1 Attacking and Reaction Drill
This 1v1 soccer attacking drill focuses on the attacker making quick faints, a change of direction, and a burst of speed while causing the defender to react quickly to the attacker's movements.
6 vs 4 Team Training Numbers
This 6 vs 4 team training drill focuses on team movement, communication, and passing. This is a great session to end on after an intense passing practice.
7v7 Scrimmage
A 7v7 scrimmage is a great way to end most of your training sessions. The 7 vs 7 allows players to focus on team tactics in realistic training situations and respond to problems presented in the full-sided game.
1v1 Diamond Shooting Drill
This 1v1 drill focuses on a passing combination with movement off the ball and finishes with a one vs. one to goal. If players miss they become the keeper and the game continues. Players love the fun, competitive twist of being able to make a player become a goalkeeper.
Clean Your Room
This soccer game is a great drill for U5 through U8 players. The clean your room soccer drill will focus on dribbling under pressure while also working on defensive pressure as an individual or a small group.
3v1 Rotating Defenders
This 3v1 game will focus on keeping possession in a tight space. Work on passing, decision making, movement on and off the ball as well as improve communication.
2v2 Quick Attacking Soccer Drill
This 2v2 soccer drill is a great game to work on quick attacking and defending skills. It is a very fast paced and dynamic soccer game that the kids will love.
Triangle Goal Game
The Triangle Goal Soccer Game will focus on all aspects of the game such as passing, moving, and finishing. The players will have to work together as a team to quickly off-balance the defender and catch the goalkeeper off guard.
1v1 Defending the Dribble with Teammate
The purpose of this drill is to isolate the defender to focus on the first defender and defending the dribble while working with a teammate. This teaches young soccer players to work together with your teammate to shut down the attacker.
1v1 Dribble Attack with Shot
The purpose of this 1v1 drill is to focus on dribbling to beat a defender and finishing with a shot. This drill can also be used to focus on defensive players defending the dribble.
1v1 Defending the Dribble
This 1v1 soccer defending drill will isolate the defender to focus on the first defender and defending the dribble. Modify this drill to focus on the first attacker taking on the defender.
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.
Circle Keep-Away Passing Game
This keep-away game is a fun passing exercise for younger players that focuses on the passing game while playing keep away.
World Cup Soccer Drill
The World Cup Soccer Drill is a great shooting game for kids of all ages. The World Cup Soccer game is a great drill to work on game-like situations while numbers down.
4v4 + Target Players with 2 Goals
The 4v4 + Target Players to 2 Goals is a great 4v4 soccer game that teaches players to play into their target player. This game adds a more realistic twist to the typical 4-on-4 soccer game.
2v2+1 (2 vs. 2 plus target attacker)
This 2v2+1 soccer drill is a great situational game that focuses on numbers up attacking situations or numbers down defending situations.
Defensive Speed Course
This soccer fitness drill is designed to improve defensive speed and quickness in front of the goal. This exercise is intended to be more of a fitness training drill than a technical or tactical defensive soccer training drill.
1v1, 1v2, 2v2 - 4 goal game
This 1v1, 2v2 to multiple goals soccer drill puts soccer players in 1v1 and 2v2 situations with multiple goals. 1v1 soccer helps players focus on penetration by forcing the player to dribble to beat their opponent and allows players to make the attack unpredictable through creativity. Your kids will love this soccer drill!
Lane Spacing and Separation Soccer Game
This soccer game uses lanes to divide the soccer field into three equal areas to teach spacing and separation to young soccer players.
Dribbling to Beat Defenders, Take on Defenders
The Dribbling to Beat Defenders, Take on Defenders drill is a great soccer drill to teach players to dribble at and beat defenders. It also focuses on other aspects of the game such as passing, receiving, and support. Teaches players to take on defenders.
1v1 to Goal
The 1v1 Soccer Drill to Goal is a great soccer drill to improve goal scoring opportunities. This drill focuses on beating the last defender, staying in control of the ball and finishing with a good shot on goal.
Improving Speed of Play - Passing Drill
This soccer drill is designed to improve the speed of play, decision making, and passing accuracy under pressure.
Attack vs. Defence Shooting and Defending Drill
The Attack vs. Defence Shooting and Defending drill is one that the kids love. The players will get to work on both attacking (shooting) and defending skills and if ran correctly, very fast paced.
Quick Transition Game
This soccer drill is an excellent way to focus on attacking and defending and is ideal for teaching the basic principals of soccer. The game can be modified to illustrate many aspects of the game.
Soccer End Zone Game
The soccer end zone game is a great soccer drill that will help coaches focus on all aspects of attacking and defending in soccer. With incorporating end zones into the game, it gives players a chance to learn to attack space behind the defense and allows defenders to learn how to deny space behind them.
Finding the Target Player
The Finding the Target Player possession passing drill is designed to encourage midfield and defensive players to look up the field to find the "Target Player" and play into that Target player.
Split the Defenders Passing Game
The split the defenders passing game, soccer passing drill is excellent for a little more advanced player from 10 years old to 14 years and focuses on passing to split two defenders.
Four Corners Passing Game
The Four Corners Passing Game is a great soccer passing drill to focus on changing the point of the attack, and timing of runs and passes.
Guard the Castle
The Guard the Castle drill is a great small-sided game that focuses on passing in numbers up situations. This soccer passing game is a fun drill the kids will love it!
1v1v1 Triangle Game
The 1v1v1 Triangle Game soccer drill focuses on attacking in a number-down situation. This game will encourage players to dribble, take players on, shield the ball from the defensive players, and the vision to find the open goal. Defensively this drill promotes players to stay aware of their defensive shape and tackling players on the dribble.
3-Minute Shooting Drill
This soccer drill allows the coach to focus on shooting, goalkeeping and clearing balls from the back. This drill is an excellent warmup to a shooting or clearing practice.
1v1 Transition Drill
This dynamic game will allow you to focus on the transition from offense to defense. This soccer transitional drill is designed to be played at a quick pace.
1v1 to Multiple Goals (Dribbling)
This 1v1 soccer drill is an excellent drill for focusing on teaching players attacking skills such as taking on their opponent or learning to attack space. Defensively it will teach players the responsibility of man-marking.
Diagonal 1v1 Soccer Drill
This 1v1 soccer drill is great to focus on 1v1 play whether it is on the offensive or the defensive side. On the offensive side, you can get attackers to attack the defenders with speed, quick change of pace with an explosive touch to get away, and getting behind the defensive players. On the defensive side, you can focus on closing down quickly, forcing the attacker to the side and closing down the attack.
Pressure/Cover Tactical Defending Soccer Game
This soccer drill is designed to help players identify the roles of the first defender (the closest player to the ball) and the second defender (the supporting player providing cover). It focuses on teaching players how to effectively pressure the ball handler while maintaining proper positioning for defensive support.
Pirates of the Pugg
This soccer dribbling drill is a great soccer drill using a Pugg Goal that can be tweaked to focus on many aspects of the game. For younger players ages 8-11, the primary focus should be on proper dribbling technique in traffic which requires vision and awareness. The coach can also focus on the transition from offense to defense if the ball is lost, or recovering from a tackle and finding safety. Defensively, this allows defenders to steal the ball from attackers and play to a particular goal or target.
1v1 Competition
This drill is great to focus on 1v1 play. It is flexible and can be used to work on the offensive side or the defensive side. On the offensive side you can get attackers to attack the defenders with speed, quick change of pace with an explosive touch to get away, getting behind the defensive players and shooting at half chances. On the defensive side, you can focus on closing down quickly, forcing the attacker to the side and closing down the attack.
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.
2v2 Challenge
This 2v2 soccer drill focuses on putting players in 2 vs. 2 situations while attacking the goal. The dynamics of the games works on transitioning, and fitness demands on the players can be intense at times.
4v4 Playing Wide Out of the Back
This drill is designed to get players to play balls wide when playing from the back, the defensive third of the field. Players recognize that they find more time and space on the outsides of the field and they are relieving the center of the pitch from dangerous play.
The Numbers Game
The Numbers Game soccer drill focuses on the 1v1 situational play for younger players. This 1v1 drill works on all dynamics of this game such as dribbling, shooting, shielding, turning and beating an opponent.
1v1 or 2v2 - Get Outta Here
This drill is a very fast paced 1v1 or 2v2 soccer game that focuses on aspects of the small sided game such as dribbling, passing, and scoring.
4V4 With 5 Goals Inside The 18
This 4v4 finishing drill is one of my favorite soccer finishing drills as it works on every aspect of finishing inside the 18-yard box. This drill focuses on soccer finishing skills such as chipping, crossing, heading, finishing and composure in the 18.
4v2 and 3v1 Rondo; Finding Target Players
This 4v2 and 3v1 rondo soccer drill focuses on playing the target players from the attacking third of the field.
4v4 Zone Game
This 4v4 possession soccer drill helps players keep possession for a purpose with short and long passing combinations. This drill also allows one to focus on defensive transition by quickly close down space and eliminate passing lanes.
2v1 ATTACKING RONDO
This drill focuses on attacking in a number’s up situation and opening up and finding the attacker in a 1v1 situation. This drill puts much emphasis on good passing, receiving and general possession.
Attacking from the Midfield
This attacking soccer drill focuses on building an attack from the midfield and focuses on the midfield players getting forward into the attacking third.
Attacking the End Line Crossing Game
This drill focuses on attacking from the end line from the flanks and serving a ball in. This is a great crossing game to isolate the flank players and getting them to serve the ball in front of the goal.
4v3 Attack vs. Defense
This attacking soccer drill is a great drill to focus on finishing. Since the attackers have the numerical advantage, they should learn how to exploit their advantage and finish with a shot on goal.
3v2 Flying Changes
This drill is designed to focus on all aspects of the game in a 3v2 situation. Mainly runs of attackers, angle of support, passing vs. shooting decisions, defensive shape, and recovery runs, along with working on mental attentiveness.
5v2 Rotating Defenders
This 5v2 drill will focus on keeping possession by making good passes as well as good passing decisions, moving to open space, and good communication.
3v3 Plus 3
This drill focuses on keeping possession. Passing, receiving, movement, and angle of support can be singled out. Causes players to look up and be aware of the surrounding players.
4v4 Soccer to a Small Gate
In Soccer, 4v4 is the smallest version of a full-sided game. While on the attack, to be successful in a four vs. four soccer match, players must penetrate via the pass, dribble, or shot; players must provide support to the player with the ball, and players need to create width to the field. On the defensive side, a player must pressure the ball to delay the attack, another player should cover for the player pressuring the ball, and the remaining two players balance the field of play. This 4v4 practice focuses on all aspects of the match, including attacking, defending, passing, receiving, supporting, penetrating, and spreading the field.