Defence

A good defence is the building block of any great team. The articles in this section will help you coach your players to work as a defensive unit. We look at how your players should organise themselves, what are their roles and responsibilities as defenders, and how they should react in different defensive situations. With work, you should be able to coach your players to control the game at the back and to start great passing moves leading to goals at the other end.

Defending as a unit - In this session we look at developing teams ability to defend as a unit.

Never Concede from a Corner Again - Giving players specialist positions during matches can be extremely effective. Tell them where to stand, what to do and how to do it, particularly in situations where your team is under pressure. Are you conceding a lot of goals from corners? Then you need a player to stand BIG at the front of your penalty area to block the corner taker. Do this properly and you need never concede from a corner again.

Tony Carr on defending corners football drill - One of the key elements of a defensive strategy for your team is getting your players to know their positions at corners, says Tony Carr, Academy Director at West Ham United.

How to Pass the Ball Out from the Back - Good teams can pass the ball out from the back in a structured controlled manner. Tony Carr, Academy Director at West Ham United, explains how to coach your players to do it.

Shape up your team to defend all over the pitch - Shapes are important in football. They happen all over the pitch, but you must make sure your players know how they work. Playing 3v3 matches shows you how to use triangles, says David Clark

How to Keep Attackers at Bay - When your defender is the last man, if he jumps into a tackle and doesn't win it, the attacker is through on goal. So, you need to teach your players ways to hold up an opponent until help arrives, says David Clarke.

How to Coach Effective Marking - What you tell your players the session is about: 1. How to mark opponents effectively.
2. When to mark players and when to cover spaces.

The Attacking Defender - When a defender plays the ball out of his penalty area to one of his midfielders or attackers he should not stop running. He should run outside the attacker, to help put pressure on the opponents, says David Clarke.

Coping with Aerial Bombardment - A great way to put your defenders under pressure at training is to get your players to bombard your best three defenders with high balls into the penalty area so they are constantly having to clear them, says David Clarke.

Providing cover for a team-mate against an opponent - There's nothing worse for an attacking player than getting past the defender only to find another one in his way. So how do you get your players to cover?

Defending against attacking wingers - A great drill to get your players clearing the ball.

Football coaching tips on becoming more compact in defence - In one of the matches we played this week my U10s team was attacking – all the players were in advanced positions. The opposition defence won the ball and were moving quickly to counter attack.

Football attack versus defence game - This is a brilliant attack versus defence game that keeps players on their toes. Not only must they work together to fashion chances or protect their goal, but the rotation of players on and off the pitch means that play stays fresh and committed.

Football shooting game to help coach defensive tactics - Shooting games are great to coach players defensive tactics - especially when the defender must win the ball to create a chance to shoot.

Football drill on defenders moving goal-side - Here is a tactic for your players to understand that getting goal-side may be one of the basic must-dos of the game but it can also be used as a tactic to stop the opposition breaching your defence.

Football tips on the defensive midfielder position - A strong player who wins the ball and passes it to the feet of the attackers... I'm sure everybody wants one in their team but don't worry, you can create your own.

Football tips on the covering defender - When a defender is applying pressure to an attacker with the ball, it is important they have support in the form of a second or "covering" defender. This is to ensure that if the attacker beats the first defender, any progress is stifled by the second one.

Football coaching game for attacking and defending - This is an all-action three-man attacking and defending game in one respect. It rehearses players in communicating well and showing strong teamwork values while the use of the neutrals adds a clever tactical element.

Football coaching session for the covering defender - When a defender is applying pressure to an attacker with the ball, it's important they have support in the form of a second or "covering" defender. That's to ensure that if the attacker beats the first defender, any progress is stifled by the second one.

Football session for the full back versus wide player - It is crucial to win your 1v1 battles in wide areas of the pitch whether attacking or defending. Developing your full backs and wide players so they can win these clashes in this part of the field could lead to clearing danger or putting in a threatening cross.

Manchester United's three-ball routine - Manchester United's first-team coach Rene Meulensteen developed what he called the three-ball routine to increase team speed and mental awareness. I saw it in action and it was a real flurry of movement and attacking action.