Drill: Develop compactness as a back 4
Purpose
To develop the goalkeeper and back four working together as a unit, improving shifting side to side and backwards and forwards, along with pressing, covering and communication
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Set Up
  • Area half a pitch
  • Full sized goal
  • Servers on two cones 45 meters out and 30 meters apart.
  • 2 x Servers with a supply of balls
  • Goalkeeper and back four against 4 attackers
  • Bibs
Structure
GK and back four play against 4 forwards, two wide players and two central strikers. There are two servers situated about 45 meters from goal and 30 - 40 meters apart. Ball is played across the pitch between two servers. Goalkeeper and back 4 move as a unit as the ball is transferred. Ball is then passes from a server to a wide player. Nearest defender pressures the ball, rest of back 4 adopt covering positions. Ball is played back to server, back 4 and GK squeeze the play. Server switches the ball to the opposite wide player. Back 4 drop and fullback pressures the ball. The rest of the back 4 adopt covering positions. Ball is passed inside to central forward, central defender pressures the ball, rest of the back four adopt a covering position.
Coaching Tips
  • Initially ensure defenders are conditioned to pass the ball backwards to server or across the pitch
  • Goalkeeper and defenders work and move together as a unit - backwards and forwards, side to side
  • Good talking and communication
  • Use key phrases - push up, squeeze, drop off, right shoulder, left shoulder, cover, get tight, hold the line, show inside etc
  • Goalkeeper takes positions in relation to where the ball is and where the defenders are
  • Defenders to adopt good body positions - open body - see the ball, see the attacker
  • Nearest defender pressures the ball quickly
  • Second nearest defender(s) must provide supporting cover - good angle and distance, good communication
  • Only squeeze up the pitch to make the play compact if there is no chance the ball can be played forward.
  • Any chance the ball will be played forward defenders drop towards their own goal

Defenders stay on their feetAt the start of the drill condition the attacking team to pass the ball across the pitch and back to the servers to switch play. This will allow the defenders and goalkeeper to get used to working together in their roles. Then condition the central forwards to push up against the central defenders and get the servers to pass the ball into the two central forwards so the defenders can get used to a central defender pressing the ball and full backs and other central defenders providing support cover. As a last condition encourage the servers to pass the ball in behind the defenders, so they can understand when they can squeeze and when they must drop and cover the goal. Lastly allow free play and encourage the attackers to try and score, but with the condition they can p[ass back to the servers who can then switch play, pass to feet or play the ball in behind.

Progressions
  • Bring in defending midfield attackers and defenders
  • Make drill a competition
  • Use different start points so the defenders have to react quickly