Coaching: Individual Defending | Official Website of The PFA

Defenders first priority is to win back the ball, of course there will be times when that isn't a simple task, and it is on these occasions that defenders have to try and force attacking play into areas that are going to offer the least threat to goal.

Defenders can either:

a) try and force attackers into wide positions or
b) simply make the play across the field.

Here are some practices that will assist defenders in their development of these skills.

Practice 1

Organisation

Area: 10 metres x 15 metres
1 ball
4 players

S serves the ball to A who is close to the Touchline. A needs to control the ball and pass it onto B who is on the far touchline - positioned centrally.

D is a defender who moves towards A as soon as S passes the ball.

D should position himself, to force A down the touchline roughly on the touchline side illustrated by the line L.

D must reduce A's options, and make his play predictable - above all cutting out the pass to B.

D should tackle when the opportunity presents itself

D must prevent A cutting inside.

NB the coach should encourage A to control quickly, attempt to either dribble past D or t least make an angle to open a route to B to make the practice worthwhile.

The players can rotate positions to enable each player to have the opportunity to develop his defensive capability.

Practice 2

To assist the defender D1 a second defender D2 can be brought into the practice to accentuate the note of forcing attackers into wide positions.

S passes to A, who controls the ball, and his aim is to get the ball to B position and on the opposite touchline.

D as in practice 1 moves in and again tries to force A down the line. This time a second defender D2 is positioning himself in support of D1 and should be ready to tackle if D1 is beat.

D2's position is important - MUCH DEPENDS ON THE POSITION ON THE FIELD

a) D2 should not be too close to D1 - or he will lose his effectiveness, particularly if the play is in the middle of the field - a speedy opponent could sprint past them both and put them out of the game.

b) In a tighter area (near to the penalty area) clearly D2 needs to be closer to D1 as A may beat D1 and get a shot on goal before D2 can get in a challenge.

The coach should insist again on a good service by S, quick control by A, who must be encouraged to try everything he know to get the ball to B.

Players can again rotate duties, the coach manoeuvring the defenders into the correct areas, positions and instructing them on when to tackle.

Practice 3

To develop widen the area to 15m x 20m, exactly the same players only this time as soon as S plays the ball to A he joins in the play so creating a 2 v 2 situation - S & A against D1 and D2.

S & A trying to get the ball to B on the opposing touchline.

S passes to A and D1 again tries to force A down the line who now has the option of playing the ball to S who moves forward.

D2 now has to decide his position, and so the 2 defenders have to work in tandem.

D2 deciding whether to cover, should D1 be beaten down the touchline (his first priority) or whether to hold his position should A look to bring S into the play and so open a wider angle to B.

Communication between the 2 defenders (as well as the 2 attackers) is important. The covering player giving information to the challenging defender.

In an area of this size, one defender would always be in a tight challenging position to the attacker who has the ball - so as not to make it an easy option to pass to B.

Practice 4

To develop further the area can be enlarged again, to 20m x 30m. Two goals with goalkeepers introduced, and so it becomes 2 v 2, on the filed trying to score in the opponent's goal.

This gives a competitive edge to the practice, and it is better if full sized goals are used.