Collective defensive tactics: Goal defense
- Markers
- 12 vests (6 per color)
- Balls
- 1 goal
- Playing area: half field
- Players: 19 + 1 goalkeeper
- Duration: 20 minutes
- Series: 2 of 9 minutes each with 2 minutes of passive recovery in between
Summary | Secondary Objectives |
---|---|
Train the defensive phase according to the finishing play: cross, lofted pass, ground pass, throw |
Header, Pass, Long pass, Finishing, Individual defensive tactical principles, Movement, Contraction and expansion of defensive line, Defending a cross, Defense of the aerial ball, Pass to overcome the lines, Cross from the byline, Cross into the box, Body positioning, Transitions |
Use a regulatory half of the field for the drill. Place a horizontal line of markers at the edge of the penalty area (low defense line). Place another horizontal line of markers 10 to 15 meters/11 to 16 yards outside the penalty area (high defense line). Divide the players into three groups using jerseys: one group of seven defenders (red team) and two groups of six attackers each (white and yellow teams). The goalkeeper stands in defense of the regulatory goal and plays with the red defenders. The red team lines up to defend the goal with the 1-4-3 formation. The white team lines up on the field attacking the goal with the 3-3 formation. The yellow players act as flanks and deploy two on each side (considering the two sides of the side strips) and two near the halfway line. Each of the six backs is assigned a progressive number and two balls.
- The objective of the drill is to work on the defensive phase and more generally to stimulate the red players on various situations and various types of ball transmission which can be found during the match. The defenders must react and defend accordingly
- The coach begins the drill by calling a number corresponding to a flank player, who plays the ball to the white attackers in the playing rectangle initiating an attacking action. When the action is finished, either with a conclusion in the goal or with the defenders winning the ball, the coach immediately calls another number corresponding to a second flank player who again plays ball to the white attackers. So on until the end of the twelve balls (two per side)
- Depending on the position of the flanker playing the ball, the start of the action may be:
- cross from the back of the field or lateral lofted pass (sides 4 and 6)
- through ball on the ground or to the attackers (sides 2 and 3)
- deep throw or ground verticalization from the middle of the field (sides 1 and 5)
- Yellow players during the maneuver act as flank players for the inside attackers
- The red defenders, having recovered the ball, aim to quickly develop the transition action to pass the ball to one of the two yellow players placed on the depth
Example: the coach calls out player number 4
- At the end of the round of twelve balls played, rotate the two groups of attackers (reverse the yellow flankers with the white inside players)
- At the end of the first series, change the defensive midfielders (red) with three midfielders who previously served as attackers (white or yellow)
- The inside forwards (white) play free touches
- The defenders (red) play three touches
- Flankers (yellow) have 5 seconds to pass and two touches available for plays during the course of actions
- Offside rule is valid
- Place a second goal where red players can shoot at when they regain the ball (positive transition)
- Limit the ball touches to all players
- Take care of individual positioning and body positioning of defenders depending on the ball and the goal
- Pay attention to the defensive phase: marking, reading the play, putting pressure on opponents, protecting depth
- Encourage the players to press opponents not to lower themselves beyond the low-defense-line. When the ball is far from the goal or played around midfield line, the defensive line must be ready to rise until the high-defense-line. When opponents are free to play the ball vertically, or a cross from the side, the defensive line must be ready to run fast to check plays in depth and insertions by opponents' strikers (defensive 'Elastico')
- Pay attention to individual tactics while players attack the goal, depending on the type of ball transmission played by flank players
- Take care of all transitions phases, especially positive transitions by the defending team: once the ball is regained, players should quickly organize a fast counter attack