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Football (soccer) drill library: Defensive drills and pressing exercises
Defense is as important a part of football (soccer) as offense. Defensive exercises help players understand the basics of defensive play.
Drills: Defense
© CoachTruly.com1v2
The situation starts with the coach passing to the attackers' queue, from which one attacker emerges, and two defenders come from the blue queue. One defender takes the role of the 1st defender, and...
Defense2v12nd Defender
© CoachTruly.comGoal Zone Game with Jokers
Yellow end zone players act as jokers. 2v2 in the middle. If there's an odd number of players, an additional joker can be in the middle. The joker must take their first touch inside the area and play...
DefenseJokerPassing
© CoachTruly.comClearance ball to own player
The drill starts with a 2v1 situation in a square, where the task of the single player (black) is to win the ball and play it to the attacker on their own side (between the cones). After winning...
Defense
© CoachTruly.com1v2 ball shielding
1v2 exercise. The player with the ball aims to shield and keep possession against two opponents. When possession is lost, the player who previously had the ball tries to win it back. If the ball goes...
Defense
© CoachTruly.com1v1 + support player
1v1 drill with a support player. The player in possession aims to keep the ball as long as possible. The player without the ball in the area tries to win the ball and switch roles. Outside the area...
Defense
© CoachTruly.comBall shielding without dribbling
1v1 exercise where the ball is placed on top of a cone. The defending player is not allowed to touch the ball but shields it with their body so that the opponent cannot touch it. The player without...
Defense
© CoachTruly.com1v2
1v2 drill focusing on defenders' actions.
The drill starts with a ball from the goalkeeper to an attacker on the side channel of the field.
Defense
© CoachTruly.com2v2
2v2 drill focusing on defenders' actions. The drill starts with a ball from the goalkeeper to an attacker on the sideline of the field. One player from each attacking and defending line participates....
Defense
© CoachTruly.comQuick 1v1 in defensive area
In this drill, a "defensive area" is set up in the center of the area using cones. The situation starts with a pass from the defender on the wing to the attacker. After making the pass, the defender...
Defense
© CoachTruly.comMan Marking
Players are divided into two teams and each player is assigned a player from the opposing team whom they man mark during the game. If the player being man marked succeeds in scoring a goal, it can be...
Defense
© CoachTruly.com5v3 defending
Drill for developing defending. The outnumbered defenders must guide the play to less dangerous areas. They must also decide against whom and when they engage in duels or make tackles. After winning...
Defense
© CoachTruly.comDefensive Play
Players are divided into two teams and the field into three sections. In the team's defensive third, there can only be the goalkeeper and one defender from the own team. The other players move in the...
Defense
© CoachTruly.comChallenge & defend with gates
The drill is performed in pairs. Both players have their own gate goal. The drill starts with passing between the pair. When the coach gives the signal, the player with the ball becomes the attacker...
Defense
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