The Benefits of Staying Compact Defensively

By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter.  Today’s featured activity works on staying compact defensively.

This is a 5 v 3 game to goal with a keeper in the goal.  The 3 are defending the goal.  The 5 attacking players start at midfield with a ball


The attacking team gets a point by scoring a goal OR any time the defending team has a player more than 10 yards apart from another player.

The defending team gets a point any time they win the ball, the attacking team loses the ball or they cause the attacking team to take more than 30 seconds to get to goal.

The concept behind this game is for the defending players to stay together, stay compact and slow the game down.

If one defender comes out far and the other two stay back, there are too many holes so they lose


If come out together, they can close those holes and be much more effective


If the ball goes out wide and one defender pressures the ball and the other two stay central, there are too many holes so they lose


If they work together they can make it much more difficult


Working together, 3 defenders should be able to slow down 5 attackers.  It’s when they get spread out that problems occur.

Do 8-10 attacks and then rotate in new defenders,

Have a great day!

Lawrence

By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.

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