WORLD CLASS COACHING
40 Individual Defending and Small Group Exercises
By Luca Bertolini
Table of Contents
PART TWO
1v1 Exercises
1 v 1 Exercises
Exercise 1 - 1 v 1: on the ball, recover or retreat
Set-up and Sequence: 3 players (2 forwards and 1 defender) and the coach are placed inside a rectangular space, as in the picture. 2 mini goals are placed along the shorter sides of the rectangle. The coach or the center player can start the exercise, and depending on who is the receiver or the player in possession, the defender must act as follow:
1) Mark the player who is already in possession (the coach calls the "1").
2) The coach passes the ball toward the nearest forward, who must turn and attack the upper goal; the defender must recover the space to prevent him from shooting.
3) The coach passes the ball on the run of the nearest forward, who must turn and attack one of the 2 goals; the defender must retreat to close the space to prevent the opponent from shooting (by tackling or anticipating him)
Variations: perform the three defensive actions one after another.
Eye on: mark strictly, body position to deny space to the opponent toward the goal to defend, diagonal runs to recover and to close the goal space, retreat to counter the opponent while receiving.
Exercise 2 - Double 1 v 1: on the ball, recover or retreat
Set-up and Sequence: 4 players (2 forwards and 2 defenders) and the coach are placed inside a rectangular space, as in the picture. 2 mini goals are placed along the shorter sides of the rectangle. The coach or the center player can start the exercise, and depending on who is the receiver or the player in possession, the defenders must cooperate and act, creating a double 1 v 1 duel, as follow:
1) Mark the player already in possession (the coach calls the "1")
2) One defender must recover the space toward the upper goal to prevent the forward from shooting and the second one must play 1 v 1 duel, marking the other opponent, who is already in possession.
3) If the coach passes the ball on the run of the nearest forward, who must turn and attack one of the two goals, the second defender must retreat to close the space to prevent the opponent from shooting.
Variations: the coach can indicate the task of each defender while playing the ball to start the sequence.
Eye on: quick decision making, quick reactions, cooperation, mark strictly, body position to deny space to the opponent toward the goal to defend, diagonal runs to recover and to close the goal space, retreat to counter the opponent while receiving.
Exercise 3 - 1 v 1 without the ball: counter or recover
Set-up and Sequence: 2 players (1 forward and 1 defender) and the coach are placed inside a rectangular space, as in the picture. 2 goals (named or numbered) are placed along the shorter sides of the rectangle. The coach starts the exercise (and he also indicates the goal to attack), and depending on which kind of pass he plays, the defender must act as follow:
1) Mark the player while he is still without the ball and then counter to prevent him from shooting as he receives or even anticipating him. The forward must attack the goal A in the picture.
2) The coach passes the ball on the run of the forward, who must turn and attack one of the two goals; the defender must retreat to close the space to prevent the opponent from shooting (by tackling or anticipating him). The goal B must be saved.
If the forward attacked the goal B first, then the defender would have to recover the space to save the goal A.
Variations: perform the two defensive actions one after another.
Eye on: mark strictly, body position to deny space to the opponent toward the goal to defend, diagonal runs to recover and to close the goal space, retreat to counter the opponent while receiving.
Exercise 4 - 1 v 1 and double marking
Set-up and Sequence: 3 players (1 forward and 2 defenders) and the coach are placed inside a rectangular space, as in the picture. 2 goals (named or numbered) are placed along the shorter sides of the rectangle. The coach starts the exercise (and he also indicates the goal to attack), and depending on which kind of pass he plays, the defenders, who are placed in front of the goals, must act as follow:
1) Counter the forward who is already in possession to save the goal A and try to wait for the second defender to double the mark, recovering the space from the other goal.
2) The coach passes the ball on the run of the forward, who must turn and attack the goal; the defender must retreat to close the space to prevent the opponent from shooting (by tackling or anticipating him, or trying to wait for the double marking).
Variations: perform the two defensive actions one after another, to invite both the defenders to recover the space during the second sequence.
Eye on: defend with patience, quick reaction to double the mark, body position to deny space to the opponent toward the goal to defend, diagonal runs to recover and to close the goal space.
Exercise 5 - 1 v 1: save the goal
Set-up and Sequence: this is a variation of the previous practice, where the coach is placed on a corner of the rectangle and the forward must attack the goal without the ball.
The defender must save the goal anticipating the opponent and preventing him from finishing with the right body position to save the goal, to pay attention to the ball position, and to see him while he's getting closer.
Variation: the players are placed on the center cone, and they become defender or attacker, depending on which is the goal to defend and to attack. A second coach or player is required to start the move on the opposite corner.
Eye on: body position to deny space to the opponent toward the goal to defend, anticipation and tackling.
Exercise 6 - 1 v 1: save the goal and recover the space to prevent counter attacks
Set-up and Sequence: this is another variation of the previous practice, where coaches or players are placed on opposite corners of the rectangle and the sequence is repeated without a break.
First of all, the defender must save the goal anticipating the opponent and preventing him from finishing with the right body position to save the goal, to pay attention to the ball position, and to see him while he's getting closer.
As the first sequence ends, the defender becomes attacker and he counters toward the opposite goal to finish (B). The player, who was attacking before, must recover the space back to prevent the counter attack.
From now on, the sequence is repeated without break.
Eye on: body position to deny space to the opponent toward the goal to defend, anticipation and tackling, quick reactions to defend the counter attacks.
Exercise 7 - 1 v 1: save the goal and recover the space to prevent counter attacks
Set-up and Sequence: 6 players (4 of them are numbered and in possession of a ball on the corners and 2 are named in the middle) are placed as in the picture. 2 goals are placed along the shorter sides of the rectangle. The players in the middle are alternately defender and attacker.
The coach must indicate every time the player who must kick the ball and the goal to attack, till all of them are without the ball.
This way the defender must decide if it's better to press, to tackle, to recover or retreat the position 1 - the defender in the picture must try to anticipate the attacker). He then can counter toward the opposite side - 2. The players must change the body position against the forward every time, depending on direction and on the player who passes the ball.
Variation: the coach can indicate the goal to attack every time a new ball is played.
Eye on: body position to deny space to the opponent toward the goal to defend, anticipation and tackling, quick reaction to defend the counter attacks, recover or retreat.
Exercise 8 - 1 v 1 waiting for double marking
Set-up and Sequence: this practice is a variation of the previous exercise. All the players are placed and act in the same way.
The important difference is a third player, who is called by the coach and who becomes a second defender (player #3 in the picture). He always supports the defender of each sequence.
This way the defender can wait for the double marking, playing with patience rather than to force the duel against the forwards.
The players must change the body position against the forward every time, depending on the direction and on the player who passes the ball.
Variation: the coach can indicate the goal to attack every time a new ball is played.
Eye on: body position to deny space to the opponent toward the goal to defend, anticipation and tackling, quick reaction to defend the counter attacks, patience to wait for the double marking.
Exercise 9 - Multiple 1 v 1 (1): pressure against the ball carrier
Set-up and Sequence: the players are paired and numbered and they are placed inside a rectangular space, as in the picture. They are divided into 2 teams; 1 attacking team and the other one as defending team; one player is always in possession.
The coach indicates the couple and the side where the ball must be dribbled out of the rectangular space; the defender must put pressure, forcing the opponent toward the center or toward the weak foot, to prevent him from dribbling out.
The players who are not involved in the duel must go on dribbling and pressing passively.
Variation: the coach can indicate all the even or odd numbers of the couples. The players can defend or attack a goal rather than dribbling the ball out.
Eye on: body position to send the opponent toward his weak foot, press to recover the ball, deny space, tackling to avoid the opponent from dribbling out.
Exercise 10 - Multiple 1 v 1 (2): react to win or to recover the ball
Set-up and Sequence: the players are paired and numbered and they are placed inside a rectangular space, as in the picture. They are divided into 2 teams; 1 attacking team and the other one as defending team; one player is always in possession. The 1 v 1 duels are without the ball at the beginning.
The coach indicates the couple that must dribble out of the rectangular space, kicking the ball; the defender must put pressure forcing the opponent toward the center or toward the weak foot to prevent him from dribbling out; the roles are decided time to time, depending on who is the receiver. The players who are not involved in the main duel, must go on playing 1 v 1 duels without the ball, competing for it as the coach kicks a new one.
Variation: the players can defend or attack a goal rather than dribbling the ball out.
Eye on: body position to send the opponent toward his weak foot, press to recover the ball, deny space, tackling to prevent the opponent from dribbling out.
Exercise 11 - Multiple 1 v 1 (3): close the passing lanes and force the opponent toward the center
Set-up and Sequence: this practice is a progression of the previous one. The players are divided into 2 teams; 1 attacking team and the other one as defending team. The 1 v 1 duels are without the ball at the beginning.
The coach indicates the couple who must compete for the ball inside the rectangular space, kicking it; the defender must put pressure forcing the opponent toward the center or toward the weak foot to prevent him from dribbling out. Attacker and defender are decided time to time, depending on who is the receiver.
The player with possession must play a 1 - 2 combination with a neutral player before dribbling the ball out. The defenders can then decide to go on marking the opponent, or to try to close the passing lanes between the attacker and the neutral player. The defender must be able to anticipate the opponent before receiving the return pass, or to close the passing lanes between them.
Variation: the free player can be a second defender to double the mark after the first passing combination.
Eye on: body position to send the opponent toward his weak foot or away from the easier passing lane toward the neutral player, deny space, tackling to avoid the opponent from dribbling out.
Exercise 12 - Multiple 1 v 1 (4): close the passing lanes and force the opponent toward the center
Set-up and Sequence: the players are paired and numbered and they are placed inside a rectangular space, as in the picture. They are divided into 2 teams. The 1 v 1 duels are without the ball at the beginning. One player is in possession for each team and placed on opposite corners.
The coach indicates the player who must pass the ball to the teammate; this way attacker and defender are identified. The defender must put pressure, forcing the opponent toward the center or toward the weak foot to prevent him from dribbling out; he can decide also to anticipate the opponent while he's going to receive. The players who are not involved in the main duel must go on playing 1 v 1 duels without the ball, competing for it when the first duels ends and when the second ball is played.
Variation: the player of the defending team, who is waiting on the opposite corner, can double the mark (2 v 1), or the player who kicked the ball can support the teammate in possession (1 v 2 outnumbered defense).
Eye on: anticipation, closure of passing lanes, body position to send the opponent toward his weak foot, press to recover the ball, deny space, tackling to avoid the opponent from dribbling out.
Exercise 13 - Multiple 1 v 1 (5): close the passing lanes and transitions to attack/to defend
Set-up and Sequence: this practice is a variation of the previous one. The set up and the sequence are the same.
If the defender wins the possession, he must pass the ball to another teammate, who must dribble out of the opposite side from the one that has been saved before.
The defenders are now working on cooperation for transition to attack and who lost the possession must work on individual transition to defend.
Variation: the player of the defending team, who is waiting on the opposite corner, can double the mark (2 v 1), or the player who kicked the ball can support the teammate in possession (1 v 2 outnumbered defense).
Eye on: anticipation, closure of passing lanes, body position to send the opponent toward his weak foot, press to recover the ball, deny space, tackling to avoid the opponent from dribbling out, counter-pressing to avoid the opposition transition to attack.
Exercise 14 - Multiple 1 v 1 (6): close the passing lanes and transitions to attack/to defend
Set-up and Sequence: this practice is another variation of the previous one. The set up and the sequence are the same.
If the defender wins the possession, he must pass the ball to a neutral player and dribble out of the opposite side from the one that has been saved before, after the return pass.
The defender is now working on cooperation for transition to attack and who lost the possession must work on individual transition to defend.
Variation: the player of the defending team, who is waiting on the opposite corner, can double the mark (2 v 1), or the player who kicked the ball can support the teammate in possession (1 v 2 outnumbered defense).
Eye on: anticipation, closure of passing lanes, body position to send the opponent toward his weak foot, press to recover the ball, deny space, tackling to avoid the opponent from dribbling out, counter-pressing to avoid the opposition transition to attack.
Exercise 15 - Multiple 1 v 1 (7): close the passing lanes and transitions to attack/to defend
Set-up and Sequence: this practice is a variation multiple 1 v 1 (5): the set up and the sequence are the same. The players always coupled and numbered. The coach is placed in the center and in possession of the ball and he decides which couple has to perform the exercise.
If the defender wins the possession, he must try to pass the ball to a teammate of the same kind of number of couple, even or odd.
The defender is now working on cooperation for transition to attack and a new player must work on individual transition to defend.
Variation: the player of the defending team, who is waiting on the opposite corner, can double the mark (2 v 1), or the player who kicked the ball can support the teammate in possession (1 v 2 outnumbered defense).
Eye on: anticipation, closure of passing lanes, body position to send the opponent toward his weak foot, press to recover the ball, deny space, tackling to avoid the opponent from dribbling out, counter-pressing to avoid the opposition transition to attack.
Exercise 16 - Double 1 v 1: counter the opponent and recover the space.
Set-up and Sequence: 3 players (2 forwards and 1 defender) are placed on a rhombus shape just over the penalty area in the center. Two forwards are in possession on the farther lower cone and the defender is placed on the nearest cone to the goal.
This first player in possession must dribble the ball toward the nearest cone on his right (or on the left); the defender must counter him, trying to force the opponent out of the penalty area, avoiding him from shooting or dribbling inside.
As the first duel ends, a second forward can cut the rhombus inside, dribbling toward the goal to finish; the defender must recover the space quickly to save the goal side and to send the opponent toward the end line, closing the goal space.
Eye on: attack the forward and be positioned to press and to force him out of the penalty area and backward, save the goal space retreating back.
Exercise 17 - Triple 1 v 1: counter the opponent and recover the space.
Set-up and Sequence: this exercise is a progression of the previous exercise. 2 forwards are in possession on the farther lower cone and 1 defender is placed on the nearest cone to the goal. 2 more forwards in possession are placed deep and sideways of the penalty area.
As the second duels ends (2), the defender must save the goal space being placed on the first pole (as in the picture), or on the second one too, as the coach decide which the side the cross pass must come from.
Eye on: attack the forward and be positioned to press and to force him out of the penalty area and backward, save the goal space retreating back and together with the goalkeeper, save the depth to avoid cross passes.
Exercise 18 - Multiple 1 v 1: be positioned against a forward inside the penalty area to save the goal space.
Set-up and Sequence: 4 named players are placed along the borderlines of the penalty area, as in the picture; a 1 v 1 duel is performed in the middle of the area. The defender must be able to prevent the forward from turning and to dribble the ball out of the penalty area and toward a wide mini goal.
The coach indicates the player who must pass the ball inside the penalty area; depending on who is the passer, the defender must press the opponent, preventing him from turning (center pass), or he must save the goal space and the pole (passes from the flank).
If the defender wins the possession, the player who passed the ball before becomes defender and he must close the space of the mini goal to score in.
Variation: the center forward must retreats, if the defender wins the possession, to help the pressure action of the teammate during the transition to defend phase of play.
Eye on: pressure to prevent the forward from turning, be placed between the forward and the goal space, pressure and counter-pressing to prevent transitions to attack of the new ball carrier.
1 v 2 exercises
Exercise 19 - 1 v 2 (manage the numerical disadvantage): pressure or offside
Set-up and Sequence: 3 players (1 forward, 1 defender and 1 neutral player) and the coach are placed inside a rectangular space, as in the picture. 2 goals are placed along the shorter sides of the rectangle.
The neutral player decides where to move and to receive the pass from the coach to start the sequence. The defender, who is now outnumbered, must be positioned toward the goal to defend as soon as possible; he can decide to mark the forward on, leaving the neutral player free to dribble (he can't score) or to press the ball carrier to force him backward and leaving the forward offside (as in the picture).
The neutral player and the forward become defenders if the possession is lost
Eye on: quick reaction and positioning, mark strictly, leave the opponent offside, change attitude from 1 v 1 mark to tackle against the ball carrier before he can pass, retreat and press to counter the opponent as he wins the ball (defense in numerical advantage).
Exercise 20 - 1 v 2 (manage the numerical disadvantage): cover and avoid a pass in behind
Set-up and Sequence: this exercise is a progression of the previous one. The defender is asked to press the neutral player in possession to avoid an in behind pass, on the run of the forward at the back.
The defender must be able to counter and to tackle the opponent while receiving for a clearance or to recover the ball. He closes the passing lane if he's on late.
The neutral player and the forward become defenders if the possession is lost
Eye on: quick reaction and positioning press and tackle the ball carrier before he can pass, retreat and press to counter the opponent as he wins the ball (defense in numerical advantage).
Exercise 21 - 1 v 2 (manage the numerical disadvantage): save the goal space
Set-up and Sequence: this exercise is another progression of the previous one. The defender is asked to close the goal space and the first pole against the forward.
The defender must be able to mark the forward on till the neutral player is about to pass (he can't score), and then he must intercept the ball on the first pole to prevent the attacker from shooting.
The neutral player and the forward become defenders if the possession is lost
Eye on: quick reactions, man on mark, interception, retreat and press to counter the opponent as he wins the ball (defense in numerical advantage).
Exercise 22 - 1 v 2 (manage the numerical disadvantage) or 1 v 1 transition to defend
Set-up and Sequence: this exercise is again another progression of the previous one. The defender is asked to close the goal space and the first pole against the forward.
If the first defender can't win the possession, the coach can pass a second ball, the prior forward must act quickly into transition to defend, recovering the space to prevent the opponent from scoring.
The transition to attack can be organized thanks to the support of the neutral player.
The neutral player and the forward become defenders if the possession is lost.
Eye on: quick reactions, retreat to counter the opponent as he wins the ball as transition to defend.
Exercise 23 - 1 v 2 (manage the numerical disadvantage) or 1 v 1 transition to defend (2)
Set-up and Sequence: a rectangular space is divided intro 3 areas, as in the picture. A 1 v 1 duel is played inside the main lower zone and 2 more forwards are placed inside upper and smaller areas, as in the picture.
The 2 forwards pass the ball to each other, go and back, while the 1 v 1 duel is being played without the ball; the center forward must be involved in the attacking phase within 6" from the beginning. The defender must mark him strictly to avoid him from being in possession or turning; if the forward is able to control the ball, the third player can run inside and the defender is now outnumbered and he must save the goal space to prevent them from finishing. If the defender wins the possession, he must dribble toward one of the upper areas and the player inside there becomes defender to prevent him from dribbling the ball out of the end line.
Variation: the prior center forward can retreat to create defensive numerical advantage (2 v 1).
Eye on: pressure to prevent the forward from turning, be placed between the forward and the goal space, pressure to recover the ball as soon as possible and counter-pressing to prevent transitions to attack of the new ball carrier.
Exercise 24 - 1 v 2 (manage the numerical disadvantage) or 1 v 1 transition to defend (3)
Set-up and Sequence: this practice is a variation of the previous one.
If the defender wins the possession, he must score in one of the two mini goals on the end lines of the smaller upper areas; the player inside there becomes defender to prevent him from shooting.
Variation: the prior center forward can retreat to create defensive numerical advantage (2 v 1).
Eye on: pressure to prevent the forward from turning, be placed between the forward and the goal space, pressure to recover the ball as soon as possible and counter-pressing to prevent transitions to attack of the new ball carrier.
Exercise 25 - 1 v 2 (manage the numerical disadvantage) or 1 v 1 transition to defend (4)
Set-up and Sequence: this practice is another variation of the previous one.
When the center forward receives the ball within 6" from the beginning, he must pass back to the third teammate inside the other upper area, who dribbles out to play 2 v 1 against the defender.
The defender must mark the first player strictly to prevent him from being in possession or passing back; if the forward is able to control the ball and to pass back, then the defender is now outnumbered and he must save the goal space against the new ball carrier to prevent him, or his teammate, from finishing. If the defender wins the possession, he must dribble toward one of the upper areas and the player inside there becomes defender to prevent him from shooting.
Variation: the prior center forward can retreat to create defensive numerical advantage (2 v 1).
Eye on: pressure to prevent the forward from turning, be placed between the forward and the goal space, pressure to recover the ball as soon as possible, cover the goal space and counter-pressing to prevent transitions to attack of the new ball carrier.
