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Soccer Drills, Games and Session Plans

Defending decisions

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Darrell Clarke

Out of possession match preparation

The session is based around an out of possession practice when concentrating on preparing for a league fixture against a 3-5-2 formation.

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David Horseman

Pressing from the front

This session is designed to improve the defensive structure and behaviours of the team when the ball is wide through realistic games situ...

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Valerien Ismael

Counter-pressing

This session is all about counter-pressing and it encourages a high intensity style of play and instant reactions from the players.

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Darren Carter

Building the attack and third player runs

When in possession, this session is all about building from the back and receiving under pressure.

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Gabriele Cioffi

Go deep

This session is all about how and when to go deep, attacking the room behind the shoulders of the opposition’s defensive line.

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Cameron Toshack

Defensive transition into effective possession

This session is focused on two main themes: defensive transition (against the ball) and regaining to build effective possession (with the...

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Matthew Etherington

Emergency defending

This training session is a based around a 4v2 possession scenario that progresses into a 5v4 overloaded transition for the defenders.

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Mark Hudson

Improving transitions

This training session is designed to create multiple opportunities for players to instantly switch from an attacking moment to a defensiv...

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Paul Mcguinness

Win the ball and break

This session is about winning the ball back and breaking quickly to score – it’s based in the middle third of the pitch but the skills ...

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Gus Poyet

Transitioning to defence

This is a session we use to train our players to transition to defence after losing the ball. In doing so, we encourage them to react ...

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Alex Bruce

Attacking and defending in wide and central areas

In this session two teams work on attacking and defending in wide and central areas of the pitch

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Mitch Whitty

CONTINUOUS COUNTER-ATTACKING

This is an extremely high tempo session that focuses purely on counter-attacking to create overloads and fast transitions to set up as many ...

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Tony Mowbray

Defending the box

My defenders tend to panic when winning the ball in defence and punt the ball out, only for it to come straight back. How can I get them to ...

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Chris Hutchings

Defending against wingers

This session is about denying attacking teams opportunities to get in behind the defence by pressing early. It is important to practise ...

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John Still

Defending as a zonal back four

In this session, we try to give players an understanding of their roles and responsibilities in defensive zones in and around the box – ...

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Jimmy Bell

Defending shapes

This session is looks at defensive structure – movement from side to side, pressure on the ball and cover from supporting players.

Featured Coaches

Arsène Wenger

Arsène Wenger is one of the most successful managers in the game and has twice been a winner of the LMA manager of the Year award. In a 22-...

José Mourinho

Here is a man who ascended from a coaching role in schools football to the status of arguably the world’s most recognisable football ...

Jürgen Klopp

Klopp arrived at Liverpool with a track record of managerial success and a reputation as one of the most forward-thinking coaches in the ...

Mikel Arteta

After beginning his playing career with Barcelona, Arteta went onto represent PSG before arriving in British football in 2002 when he ...

Pep Guardiola

In his debut season as manager, he guided Barcelona to the treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League, becoming the ...

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Paul Simpson

The back four

This session is all about making sure the defensive unit is organised. A strong, intelligent defence is crucial for keeping clean sheets, ...

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John Sheridan

Clearing defensive danger

This session is about the reactions and movements of defensive players. It looks primarily at the role of the back four in squeezing up and ...

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Mark Sampson

Defensive transition

With this session, we are looking to develop the player’s decision-making ability and the execution of his/her actions in the moment that ...

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Nathan Jones

When to press and when to drop

This session is all about teaching players when to press and when to drop as a defensive unit and it encourages them to identify and ...

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Dave Jones

Penalty box battles

Defending is a skill that needs practice, as much as dribbling or passing. Within that, it’s vital that players win their 1v1 duels, ...

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Soccer Drills, Games and Session Plans

Defending decisions

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Featured Coaches

Coaches' Testimonials

Alan Pardew

Arsène Wenger

Brendan Rodgers

Carlos Carvalhal

José Mourinho

Jürgen Klopp

Pep Guardiola

Roy Hodgson

Sir Alex Ferguson

Steven Gerrard

Join the world's leading coaches and managers and discover for yourself one of the best kept secrets in coaching. No other training tool on the planet is written or read by the calibre of names you’ll find in Elite Soccer.

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