Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defensive Cover

4v2 -- 5v6 Back-Line Shape (30 mins)

- This is a drill which works on back-line shape. Here, it is key to pressure, cover, and balance

- Four defenders create a back four in the final third. It is four vs. two in the top grid, unless the wingers get the ball (7 and 11 in green), the nearside outside back can pressure

- Challenge is to connect 10 passes in the top grid, and find the striker to break into the final third to score. The other way to break into the final third is through a give-and-go

- If defence wins, they score on mini goals

- After four tries, the attacking team switches to defence, the team off of the field goes to offence. That way, everyone gets a chance to play all positions

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

- KEY is to slide and cover the forward progression. At a disadvantage in the midfield, they must refer to the drill prior; where one slides as on presses. When the ball goes to a winger, the outside back should step, center-backs slide, and weak-side outside-back slides way in. Here one can introduce the comment of doing 1.5 jobs; covering their man but also helping cover the other player. Back-line should be willing to concede the long switch and able to react if and when it is played

- Given the rotations, teams should stay fresh and able to work. This is a very game realistic drill