You must be aware that defense is the foundation of any soccer game and the drills for soccer should also teach them to conquer the opposite team’s defense.
A few coaches like to train their players on either playing defense or offence. Those soccer drills are apt that train all players on defense in case the ball is with the rival team and offense when the ball is in their custody.
The moment players lose the ball’s possession, they should follow it immediately. The one who’s lost the ball should be the first to go after it. He is the key player here who can get his rival having the custody of the ball under immense pressure as he’s adjacent to him. As a result of this, the opponent team’s player having the ball’s possession will end up making a terrible pass or giving away the ball.
Your soccer practice must take care of the fact that all other team members should fall back in case of any one out of them is running after the rival having the ball. His entry into your goal area should be postponed as much as possible.
The most important area of the field is the center. Your drills for soccer must therefore force the opponent with the ball to move towards the touchline. As a result, the player’s strategy to move about in various directions along with his capacity to pass the ball will be impacted.
The dodgiest area where the majority of goals are scored is the arc of concentration. This arc is in the face of the goal. It kicks off from the corner post of the goal right through to the corner of the goal box and then makes its way to the touchline. So, incorporate soccer exercises to coach your players on moving the ball out of this area as the probability of the opposition scoring a goal are maximum here.
When its about defense, success comes by balancing. Over here, the players who are closest to the ball play tight. This leads to the idea that they should remain in close proximity to the ball. Players who are far off from the ball play lose. This means they place themselves at a position which covers all possibilities in a specific area and not just a single player.
Your team will be in a position of control when they get the possession of the ball. In order to achieve this, snatch the ball away from your opponent as fast as you can. Many coaches make the mistake of allowing their players to tackle the ball. This refers to sliding into the ball without touching the opponent and knocking the ball away from him.
Just in case they miss the ball here, they’ll be back on the ground and the opponent would make his way towards the goal.
So, make these a part of your drills for soccer so that your players are able to play a far better defensive game. Become a member of our youth soccer coaching community and gain knowledge, tips, articles, newsletters, videos from the world of soccer.
Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free youth soccer coaching guide visit: Drills for soccer.
Tags: Drills for soccer, soccer drills, soccer exercises, Soccer practice