DEFENDING

By Ben Bartlett, FA Regional Coach

Development Manager (East)
The Boot Room
Issue 02
December 2011
Grassroots
 54 | 55

FA Regional Coach
Development Manager, Ben
Bartlett, outlines a series of
progressive practices to help
develop defending skills

As a theme for delivery, defending is sometimes
overlooked by coaches. For those that do brave the
subject, sessions are sometimes delivered in a sterile,
unrealistic and overly-organised fashion with defenders
positioned perfectly and favoured numerically.
The sessions outlined here seek to provide a four session
programme (or longer – depending upon duration of
sessions and progress made with your players) covering
a variety of situations that defenders face in the game.
The sessions encourage repetition of scenarios and can
be used to support players of different ages and abilities,
equipping them for defending. The sessions provide
situations where players can practice defending as an
individual, as part of a unit and as part of a team.
The following situations are covered:
In keeping with The FA’s coach education programme,
Session 1 defending when organised, is an example of
how a session may be operated as part of an FA Level 2
themed session, progressing ‘up the steps’ from technique
(unopposed) to skill (opposed) into a game
related practice.
Session 2 and 3 are examples of sessions - repetition
circuits and half pitch practices - that may be experienced
within an FA Youth Award Module 2 course.
Session 4 is an example of a session from the new UEFA
B course moving from a skills practice into an 8 versus 8
small-sided game.

1. Defending against an opponent who is receiving Ben Bartlett

the ball
Ben Bartlett is Regional
2. Defending an opponent who is running at you
Coach Development
3. Defending when in balance including sliding Manager for the East.
and screening
Ben combines this role
4. Defending when out of balance/disorganised with coaching an U14
5. Defenders making recovery runs group at Aldershot Town
Elite and The FA U15
6. The transition from defending to attacking Female Elite Performance
7. Goalkeepers role in defending the goal Centre.
Ben’s previous roles
include Technical Director
for Women’s and Girls’
football at Chelsea
FC and 9 years in a
range of coaching and
development roles at
Colchester United FC
Session 1: Defending – When Organised

PART 1: Technique Practice

Getting started
• 2 teams of 4 + 2 GK’s
• 3 balls placed at
various places on
each pitch. Each ball
designated a number
1, 2 and 3. GK calls
a number and the
two defenders react
to ‘defend’ that ball.
As they position
themselves – GK calls
next ball.
• Three calls per
pair – then the
Pitch 2
defenders change.

Getting started
• Two blues play PART 2: Skill Practice
across and play into
attackers who seek
to attack and score in
the goal.
• At conclusion
attackers become
servers and
vice versa.
• If defender /
goalkeeper re-gains
possesion, they
attempt to play
into red target
player, who gives
the ball to blues
and repeat. Swap
target defenders for
defenders.
 56 | 57

PART 3: Game Related Practice

Getting started
• 2 teams of
4 + 2 GK’s
• GK starts practice

Coaching points
• Deny space (starting position, line of • Support/Cover
approach, press? not press?) (angles, distances)
•Decision (Steal, spoil, • Mark players/Cover space
prevent turning)

KEY

Players

Target player

Goalkeeper

Path of player

Path of ball
Session 2: Defending – Variety of Situations

Part 1: Individual Defending - Repetition Circuit

Getting started Pitch 1

• Pitch 1 - Server plays

into attacker who
attempts to beat red
and score in goal
– server becomes
attacker and attacker
retrieves their ball
and joins end of other
pitch.
• Pitch 2 – Blue attacker
runs ball onto pitch –
defender deals with
the attacker running
at them – attacker
retrieves ball and joins Pitch 2
end of other pitch
• On pitch 1 - If attacker
scores without using
support players
(yellows), 3 goals are
scored. If attacker
uses support to score,
1 goal is scored.

Getting started PART 2: Defending in Two’s

• Pitch 1 – Blue server
plays in to blues who
Pitch 1
attack to score past GK
• If Red’s regain, score
by playing into the
blue server who then
dribbles onto pitch to
make a 3 vs. 2
• Pitch 2 – Blue dribbles
ball onto pitch to
make 2 vs. 2. As blue
enters the pitch, red
at the back of the
servers box recovers
onto pitch. Red’s score
by regaining and
dribbling into servers
box. Pitch 2
 58 | 59

PART 3: Back Four

Getting started
• Four vs. three + GK
in defensive third of
the pitch & 3 vs. 2 in
midfield
• Red’s trying to
defend goal . If
they do regain
possession, break
into middle area and
score into goal
• Try to keep at
least one player in
midfield area
• Encourage general
flow of game to allow
realistic situations to
occur
Session 3:Defending Outnumbered – Skills Practice into 8 vs. 8

Part 1: Skills Practice

Getting started
• Two practices
running at the
same time. GK +
3 defenders vs.
4 attackers on
each pitch. Teams
defending the goal
start with the ball
and work ball out
to target player in
central zone.
• Target player can
either pass onto
pitch and join in
or run onto pitch.
Attacking team seek
to score within
5 passes
Part 2: 8v8

Getting started
•Game – 8 vs. 8,
encourage free flow
to allow realism
in outnumbered
situations
• Team in possession
attempts to work ball
into central channel.
Central channel
player runs or passes
ball into opposition
half and joins in –
opposing central
channel player
makes recovery
run. Upon regain of
possession – one
player from each
team recovers into
middle area Coaching points
• Deny – regain from poor touch/pass – • Deflect – prioritise risk allow play into
don’t track poor runs (offside) less dangerous areas (wide)
• Delay – drop & narrow • Defend – area of zero tolerance –
commit to prevent shots/block

Session 4:Sliding and screening - Defending as a team
Part 1: Skill Practice
Pitch 1
PART 2: 8v8
Coaching points
• Line of pressure
• If we can’t pressure?
• Directing play
• Marking positions & distances
60 | 61
Getting started
• Two pitches playing
Skill practice
concurrently. 3 vs.
3 with GK starting
practice. Defending
team on each pitch
seek to prevent
attacking team
working ball to target
player in central
channel
• If defenders win ball
– try to score in goal
Pitch 2
Getting started
• 8 vs. 8 – defending
team playing 3-3-1
(+GK). Attacking
team playing 3-2-2
• 1st line of pressure at
halfway line
• Movement in relation to ball
• Preventing penetrative passes
• Securing space ahead of & behind
back line