By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on defensive footwork.
One of the big problems players have in defending is poor footwork. If the players work at getting into a good stance/position and then using proper footwork to move backwards they frequently do so without an emphasis on the transition from coming forward to then moving backwards. This is important because it’s common for the defender to move forward to pressure the player with the ball and then have to transition to moving backwards to contain the dribbler.
In this activity we start using a grid 30 yards long with lines 10 yards apart. The players start spread out parallel to these lines.
The players start by sprinting to the first line.
As soon as they get to the first line, they get into a good defensive stance and then push backwards with their lead foot.
The players take 3 quick steps backwards and then sprint to the next line and do the same.
They then do the same thing to the end line and then return to the starting line.
This activity is a nice reminder to the players to push backwards with the last step and transfer the weight to get going backwards.
Have a great day!
Lawrence
By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.
