Defensive Drills

1 on 1
- Students are split into two even teams per playing area of 10x5m – 15x10m
- Two cone are positioned half way along the side of the player area, with half the team
behind each cone
- The attacking player starts with the ball (orange), runs around the cone closest to them,
then switches direction to try and score a touchdown at the other end
- At the same time the defending player (green) runs around their cone and turns to face the
attacker and prevent them from getting a touchdown
- Focus should be on the defender using techniques to prevent the attacker from scoring
- Players rotate after a touchdown is scored or the defender
wins
Stage 1
Progression
- Increase playing area
- Have 2v2/ 2v1
- Include touches and roll balls
KTP
- Moving forward to meet the attacker
- Prevention of attacker to progress forward
- On toes, face movement

Clap – Clap
- Students are organised into two even groups, with one being the attackers and one being
the defenders
- The defenders spread themselves along the score-line, having to have both feet on the line
- The attackers position themselves 5 metres away from the score-line (use cones if needed)
- Defenders are only allowed to move laterally along the
score-line
- Attackers aim to get past the defenders and get two feet
over the score-line to score one point
- After this has been done for enough time, a ball can be
added so that attackers have to score a touchdown (placing
ball down over score-line) worth 5 points
- If a defender is touched by an attacker at any time, they are
to run 5m backwards (cones placed 5m behind score-line)
and can then come back to join the defence
- Students rotate through roles
Stage 2
Progression
- Increase distances
- Have different numbers in attacking and defending teams
- Include passing, touches and roll balls
KTP
- Effective movement along score-line
- Communication amongst defensive team
- Prevention of attacker to move forward

Rob the bank

- Students are organised into two even teams – one being the robbers and one the security
guards
- Robbers aim to get past the guards without being caught (touched) and get to the bank vault
 and steal as much goal in 2 minutes
- Guards aim to stop the robbers from getting into the bank by making a touch and sending
them to prison
- Guards can only move sideways, and robbers have to go through bank doors on the way to
the vault (don’t have to when running back to ‘van’)
- Balls are used as gold, with robbers trying to get past guards and retrieve balls, and guards
aiming to use defensive techniques to prevent movement of robbers
- After 2 minutes, students switch roles
Stage 2/3
Progression
- Increase distances and number of students on field
- Allow defenders to move forward and/or backwards
as well as laterally
- Change to scoring a touchdown rather than just
collecting balls
KTP
- Effective movement sideways to block attackers
- Communication between defensive team
- Effectively preventing attacking team moving forward
- Awareness of space and positioning

3 on 2
- Students are organised into teams of 5, with 3 Attackers, and 2 defenders. They are then all
positioned on a corner cone of the area (20x12m)
- On the whistle the attacking team (green) run up around the top cone (X) spread out and
attack back towards the score-line (orange).
- The defensive team run to the middle of their defensive line, they need to be held here until
the attackers are in position to attack, having to do 5 star jumps before they can start
defending
- The attackers then try to score a touchdown in the 3-on-2 situation.
- Include a 3-touch situation, allowing attackers three touches before they can score. If
touched, players must perform a roll ball to start play again
- Once a touchdown is scored, players switch roles
Stage 3/4
Progression
- Increase playing distance
- Include more numbers in each group
- Encourage attackers to use switches and wraps
KTP
- Effective prevention of attacker movement forward
- Initiating the touch on attackers
- Communication and awareness of positioning

(Touch football Victoria, n.d: Austouch, n.d)