Soccer drill: zone defense
Suitable for the following techniques: defense positional play
Zone defense
Distances: pawns 2 meters apart.
T= TRAINER.
CV= central defender.
Blue is defense.
Red is offense.
T= TRAINER.
CV= central defender.
Blue is defense.
Red is offense.
Explanation:
Box 1
- Trainer plays ball in to A, the closest man in this case, the CV, step forward to put pressure on player with ball.
- We see a gap created where there is space for the 2 attackers to run in. See the arrows from B&C.
Box 2
- Here we see the solution to cover this running line.
- The moment the defender steps in on the player with the ball, the other players step 1 meter to the middle to close the gap. In this way, no play can be made between them.
- The defender facing the attacker who gets the ball steps forward. The rest must slide inside.
Explanation to players:
- You explain that red are the attackers and blue are the defenders.
- You start in the starting lineup and play attacker A.
- You ask the players; what should the defense do now? Correct answer: opposing defender puts pressure on the man with the ball. Make sure the rest stay put.
- You ask the players; what is created now? Correct answer: space/ running line for the attackers to dive in. Demonstrate this by running one of the attackers into this gap.
- You now ask the players; how can they avoid this? Correct answer: all step in slightly. In this case exactly between the pawns.
Exercise:
- Ball at trainer is always back to beginning lineup.
- Initial exercise is passive, trainer plays to 1 attacker, the defenders take their steps, ball back to trainer.
- Then then play other attacker. Do about 5 minutes until defenders do their job.
- If it goes well quickly, you can make it harder just by increasing the ball pace.
- One step further is to allow the attackers to pass the ball among themselves and not just to the trainer.
- Then switch the attackers and defenders and do the same thing again. Both for about 10 minutes.
