Football Drills & Trainingby Play 2 Earn Sports

Football defending drills:161 you can watch in 3D

Defending is about positions and timing. Both are easier to understand when players can watch them first.

Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Get early access
See all 161 defending drills in the app
The sample drill Slow Pass Means Go: six players on a green pitch.
Try itSlow Pass Means Go

Drag a player, then press play. These are sample names: sign in and your real roster imports automatically. Try your own names, numbers and kit.

These drills go from a first 1v1 to whole-unit defending: closing down, covering, staying compact and winning the ball. They run from U6 to adult teams, and most are for U12 and older. Here are a few to look at, and the app has all 161, each one playing in 3D.

8 of 161

1v1 From a Pass: 11 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green pitch. U10

1v1 From a Pass

8 min · 11 players

The defender passes in, closes down, and the attacker tries to beat them.

  • Close down quickly after the pass
  • Stay goal-side
Press the Passer: 7 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green pitch. U12

Press the Passer

8 min · 7 players

Two defenders try to win the ball within six seconds.

  • Sprint to the ball
  • Curve the run to cut the pass
Press with Cover Shadow: 8 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green pitch. U14

Press with Cover Shadow

8 min · 8 players

Press the ball while a teammate blocks the passing lane.

  • Press from the front
  • Cover the passing lane
Trap on the Touchline: 6 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green pitch. U14

Trap on the Touchline

8 min · 6 players

Trap the ball near the touchline in a 3v2.

  • Force play to the line
  • Close the space
Defend the Box Against Crosses: 8 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green pitch. U14

Defend the Box Against Crosses

8 min · 8 players

Defend the box against crosses with three defenders.

  • Track the runners
  • Clear the first ball
Recovery Run to the Goal Side: 5 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green pitch. U12

Recovery Run to the Goal Side

14 min · 5 players

Sprint back past the ball to get goal-side of the attacker before the next pass arrives.

  • Sprint back on the inside shoulder, not behind the attacker
  • Get goal-side first, then look for the ball
Defend the Cone Gate in a 1v1: 5 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green pitch. U8

Defend the Cone Gate in a 1v1

12 min · 5 players

Protect a cone gate by staying side-on and showing the attacker away from it.

  • Stay side-on so you can run with the attacker
  • Show the attacker away from the gate
Free Kick: Set the Wall then Restart Quickly: 14 players at the start of the drill, in 3D on a green pitch. U12

Free Kick: Set the Wall then Restart Quickly

12 min · 14 players

Build a wall in the right spot and restart the free kick before the defence is set.

  • Wall lines up with the near post, no gaps
  • Slow the restart down, then take it fast

153 more defending drills are in the app, each playing in 3D with the full set-up and steps.

See all 161 defending drills in the app

What to coach

Close down

Get to the player on the ball while the pass is travelling, then slow down.

Cover

A second defender stands at an angle behind the first, ready to step in.

Stay compact

Keep the gaps between players small, so passes through the middle are hard to find.

Choosing by age

U6 to U10

Simple games of stopping a dribbler. Make it fun, with no shape to learn yet.

U12 to U14

Pressure and cover in twos and threes, with a clear signal for who goes.

U16 to adult

Back lines and team shape: who steps up, who drops and how to defend crosses.

Questions

What age are defending drills for?

U6 to adult teams, with most of the 161 from U12 up.

How many players do I need?

Most need 4 to 11 players.

What is the difference between defending and pressing?

Pressing is one part of defending, where players go to win the ball quickly. Defending also covers holding shape and protecting the goal.

See all 161 defending drills in the app

Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Get early access
About the football drills app