Defending
2v2 Defending Units
Defend as a pair with pressure and cover
Defending
Team Shape
Pressing
2v2 Defending Units is a 18-minute defending drill for 8-16 players, suitable for Under 5 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, bibs, cones, mini goals. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.
Back to drill libraryDefending
Team Shape
Pressing
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Duration
18 min
Players
8-16
Pitch size
25 x 20 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
2v2 Defending Units — 2v2 small-sided game · 25 x 20 yards
Step 1 of 4Coach serves to the attackers who try to score.
- 1. Coach serves to the attackers who try to score.
- 2. Defenders press the ball and cover the second attacker.
- 3. Winning the ball and scoring counts double; rotate every 90 seconds.
- 4. Rotation: Rotate every 90 seconds.
- Cones mark the area
- Mini goals at each end
- Ball
- Blue v dark — score in the opposite goal
- C = coach / server
- Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Defend as a pair with pressure and cover
- -Communicate roles clearly
- -Win the ball and counter quickly
Setup
- 1Small pitch with a mini goal at each end.
- 2Two attackers versus two defenders, spare balls with the coach.
- 3Waiting pairs behind each goal.
Coaching instructions
- 1Coach serves to the attackers who try to score.
- 2Defenders press the ball and cover the second attacker.
- 3Winning the ball and scoring counts double; rotate every 90 seconds.
Coaching points
- -One presses, one covers on a diagonal
- -Talk: 'press', 'I've got cover'
- -Squeeze together to deny the through ball
- -Recover goal-side quickly after the ball moves
Common mistakes
- -Both defenders pressing the ball
- -Cover defender too flat
- -No communication