HOME Football Drills Defending

Football: Clear the Decks

Very good interactive coaching drills.

Matt

DESCRIPTION

The object of this game is for the players in possesion of the ball to clear the ball into the area on the opposite side. The opposing players have to try and prevent the players from making the clearances.

When the coach calls out freeze the team with the least amount of balls in their area are the winners.

COACHING POINTS

Correct use of the instep with toe pointed out and ankle stiff. Strike the middle of the ball and follow through.

PROGRESSION

1. Reduce to 1 ball per group.
2. Add goals at the end of the area and reward teams for the accuracy of their defensive clearances.
3. The coach feeds additional balls into the area when the balls go out of play.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

1 V 1 - 3 Goal Game:

Two players line up on opposite sides of a square.

The attacking player dribbles the ball towards the centre before then attempting to stop the ball between one of the goals.

The goal nearest to the defender's starting point is worth 10 points as it is the hardest goal to stop the ball in. The middle goal is worth 5 and the top goal only 1 point.

Defending

Defending 1 On 1 With A Goalkeeper:

Goalkeeper passes to player 2, who must attempt to dribble the ball past player 1 and score a goal. Player 1 assumes a sideways position and blocks the path to the goal. If the defender wins the ball, he should try to dribble over the end line. Rotate positions.

Allow the player to shoot as soon as he receives the ball. The player must close down the space to the ball and get into line between the attacker and the goal as quickly as possible.

Defending

1 vs 2 Attacking A Goal:

Two players line up on opposite sides of the grid to each other, with a third player placed between them in goal.

Player 1 dribbles the ball around the cone and then tries to score in the goal.

Player 2 must also run around the far cone before then attempting to stop player 1 from scoring.

Defending

Defending 2 On 1:

Player 1 has a ball; the other three balls are placed on discs on the end line.

Player 1 passes the ball to player 3, who must advance the ball to the opposite end line without being dispossessed of it by 1 or 2. Player 1 moves in to assume the correct defending position, forcing 3 in the direction of 2 by blocking the right side of the attacker. Players 1 and 2 combine to win the ball. If the defenders win the ball, have them attempt to knock a ball off a cone.

Both defenders start on the same side of the area.

Defending

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