Coaching Soccer - Defending Principles

Soccer Coaching – Pressure and cover Coaching Soccer – Defending matched up Coaching Soccer – Defending when outnumbered

Soccer Coaching – When coaching soccer, a soccer coach should look to establish the principles of defending when the team lose possession.

The soccer coach should be looking for a reaction with their players when the ball is lost. The players should quickly look to get compact as a team, to get players behind the ball, to compact centrally to deny space in central areas and to get as many players behind the ball and to defend their goal.

When coaching soccer, applying this basic defensive principle will enable your players to have a solid defensive platform from which they can then make defensive decisions, such as whether to apply pressure, what kind of pressure, cover and balance of supporting defending players and communication between players.

Soccer coaches should also look to help players to understand the different defensive needs depending on how many defensive players are matched against attacking players, when and how to pressure and cover and the need to recognise when the attacking team have a numerical advantage and the different roles of the defenders when this happens. Players will also need their soccer coach to help them to understand how to make it difficult for players to turn with the ball, to deal with high balls and crosses, the need to move and adjust defensively as individuals and as a team when the attackers move the ball and how to react defensively when the goal is under a direct threat.

The following are considered the key technical soccer coaching factors to improve defending when organised and matched up numerically:

Soccer Coaching – Pressure - Decision on how tight the pressure player gets to the ball - This will depend on how far away the attacker is when they receive the ball and what danger they pose to the defenders goal.
Coaching Soccer Decisions - To show inside to cover player or down the line away from the goal - Generally, the further the player on the ball is away from the defenders goal, play should be forced inside, into traffic and the covering players. If the attacker receives the ball wide and in a more attacking, advanced position, play can be forced down the line and away from the danger of the attacker cutting inside to shoot.
Soccer Coaching – Angles and distances of cover - The cover player and balance players will need to communicate and provide a good angle and distance of cover and balance
Coaching Soccer - Communication - It is vitally important that defenders provide clear and good information to each other
Soccer Coaching - Pivot roles if the ball is switched - Players will need to understand how their roles change if the ball is switched between attackers
Coaching Soccer – Defend the goal. Tighten up pressure and cover the closer the attackers get to the goal - The closer to goal, the more the need for tighter pressure on the ball. The shot becomes the priority
Soccer Coaching - Decisions on when and how to pressure shooting opportunities - The angle and speed of approach from a defender to an opponent who is in a position to shoot is very important for players to understand. It is important that where possible the initial line of pressure is for the defender to take a pressure line where they get between the ball and the goal to effect the shot
Soccer Coaching - Goalkeeper -To play an active role in the defensive unit, with good positioning and communication.

The following are considered the key technical soccer coaching factors to improve defend and delay, for example when the opposition have a 2 v 1 or 3 v 2 attacking advantage.

Soccer Coaching – Deny Space - Look to win the ball if there is a poor touch. For the defending unit to tighten up and hold their line if one forward makes a silly run into an offside position. Try and eliminate the numerical advantage if the man in possession can be isolated or channelled into a tight area or away from the goal which can be more easily defended
Coaching Soccer – Delay the play and buy time - By players dropping away from the ball and narrowing play. This will make it difficult for the team in possession to play effective forward passes into danger areas and force play backwards or sideways. This will buy time to help recovery runners
Soccer Coaching – Deflect the ball away from the danger area - Prioritise which forward passes to allow. This might be to feet, across the front of the defenders, to wide areas, all which buys time for the defenders to adjust and recover. The defenders should make it as difficult as possible for the ball to be played into dangerous areas behind them.
Coaching Soccer – Defend the ball - When to press despite being outnumbered. This will mainly be when the team in possession are within shooting distance. The decision will be on who pressures the ball and who covers.
Soccer Coaching - Recovery Runs - Players who are wrong side of the ball, will need to quickly recover to get goal side of the ball to restore the numerical equilibrium
Coaching Soccer - Communication - Good information and encouragement between defenders
Soccer Coaching - Goalkeeper -To play an active role in the defensive unit, with good positioning and communication

In the members area of the site there are over 250 computer game quality 3D animated soccer coaching drills and sessions, with a chapter specifically dedicated to coaching youth soccer players on the defending principles of play. Using the same technology as the virtual soccer replays that appear on the Premier league and BBC soccer web sites, we have designed a wide variety of animated soccer coaching sessions to improve their understanding of the principles of defensive play.

Imagine being able to view the animated soccer coaching drills from any number of angles, zoom in and out to see how the soccer coaching session evolves, slow the speed down and choose to have the top tips of soccer coaching drills with the techniques and skills of defending. It is totally interactive and delivers a unique online learning experience for all levels of soccer coaching.

Latest Forum Posts

Members Testimonials

Coaching Tip no 5.

I thoroughly recommend this soccer coaching website, whatever level of coach you are. It will improve a coaches technical knowledge of soccer, develop your coaching skills and provide lots of good ideas and sessions that you can take to the training ground. Great value for money too.

Gerry Armstrong – Former Assistant Manager N. Ireland Football Team and Sky TV expert analyser

Have an open mind. Never stop striving to learn and develop as a soccer coach.