Soccer Drills

World Wide Soccer Drill #14
Here is a progression that works on the first and second defender.

We start with a warm up in groups of 2's. One player has a ball and dribbles from one sideline to the other while the other player works on defensive footwork. The player with the ball starts off going at 50% speed and the defensive player works at full speed. The player with the ball does NOT try to beat the defensive player and the defensive player does NOT try to win the ball. The player with the ball can work on moves and the defensive player works on footwork and the occasional feint to put pressure on the player with the ball. When they get to the other sideline, they switch roles and do the same coming back. This should be done a total of 3 times with the first time the player with the ball going at 50% speed, then 75% speed and finally at full speed.

If there are 18 players at the training session, you would have 9 groups going at the same time.

Next the players get into groups of 3's. One player is the attacker and has the ball., the second player is the first defender and the third player will become the second defender. The attacker and first defender start just like before and the second defender starts BEHIND THE ATTACKER. See the setup below

Upon hearing the word go, X starts dribbling toward the other sideline with D1 trying to slow him down and prevent penetration. D2 has to sprint around X and D1 to become the second defender. D2 may NOT go straight towards X to win the ball but rather must go behind D1. See diagram below

Each player will get a turn in each role going 50%, 75% and 100% offensively. The second defenders role is to provide support and to communicate to the first defender. If the attacker beats the first defender, the second defender steps up to become the new first defender and the previous first defenders sprints back to become the second defender.

Once there is a better understanding of the proper footwork and positioning of the two defenders the next step is to go "live" where the attacking player tries to beat the defenders. The big emphasis to the first defenders is to NOT dive in but rather slow down the attacker, prevent penetration, wait for the second defender and then look for the opportunity to tackle the ball away.

Next we can add a counter attack incentive. The attacking player gets a point if he can beat the two defenders and get to the other sideline. If the defenders win the ball, they go 2 v 1 to the first sideline and if they can get there, they get a point. This encourages the players starting off on defense to not just kick the ball away but when they see an opportunity to tackle the ball they should go in, win it and look to counter right away.

Next this can be done to real goals and finally it would be implemented into a real game with an emphasis on always having a second defender and looking to counter attack quickly.

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